IF you’ve left it too late to make a dinner reservation or get a babysitter, but you still want to mark the day with your Valentine or Galentine, grab one of these bargain dine-in deals on your way home from work for the ultimate cheap date.
Instead of splashing out £100 for dinner for two in a packed restaurant – and that’s before you factor in the babysitter and taxi home – you could be dining on a three-course feast for under £12, thanks to your local supermarket!
With such low prices, even if you’re not celebrating Valentine’s Day, you should still grab a bargain while you can.
And for the ultimate saving, for just £10 you can grab a main, side and bottle of something lovely from one of your supermarket faves.
We’ve also tested a fancier option if you want to order something for the weekend, which even comes with a couple of gifts for extra brownie points.
Scroll down to see what Team Fabulous and their other halves really thought of this year’s Valentine’s meal deals – then pick your fave for tonight…
Ellie and Mark dined out in style – at home![/caption]
Deputy Editor Ellie O’Mahoney and husband Mark tried Waitrose & Partners’ Valentine’s deal, £20
The deal: starter, main, side, dessert and drink for £20
Available until: February 16
I love a treat from Waitrose on a special occasion, so I was super-keen to try this year’s Valentine’s offering, which is all from the premium No.1 range.
We chose Prawn Cocktail for our starter, and it was really beautifully presented in individual pots (sadly, plastic), followed by British Beef Sirloin Steaks, which were really tender, and moreish Triple-Cooked Fries with Cornish Sea Salt.
To finish, we had the You’re My No. 1 Chocolate Tortes, £4.50, which were so delicious I could have eaten both of them!
A bottle of La Gioiosa Asolo Prosecco went down a treat, too.
With such high-end ingredients, this was actually a really good deal – you can save up to £18.65 versus buying all the dishes individually.
Sub-Editor Milcah Fajardo and her bestie Carla tried Asda’s Valentine’s deal, £11.97
The deal: starter, main, two sides, dessert and drink for £11.97
Available until: February 16
Preparing our Galentine’s meal from Asda’s Bistro range couldn’t have been easier – everything came together within 25 minutes in the oven, aside from the chips, which we crisped up in the air fryer.
While we waited for it all to cook, we enjoyed a glass of Kylie Minogue 0% Rosé Prosecco, which tasted refreshing and fruity.
Starting off with a banger, we were blown away by the Caramelised Onion & Goat’s Cheese Tarts, which were so delicious I’d definitely buy them again.
For mains, we went for a posh fish-‘n’-chips-style dinner with Lemon & Herb Butter Salmon Fillets, which featured heart-shaped butter for an adorable touch, alongside restaurant-quality Beef-Dripping Chips, but really quite bland Dauphinoise Potatoes.
Dessert was indulgent, and the gooey centre was to die for, so it’s a good thing it came as two separate puddings, otherwise I’d struggle to share!
£11.97 for a fuss-free three-course meal is amazing value – a saving of £12.86, in fact – and the portion sizes will leave you stuffed.
My Galentine and I would definitely recommend.
Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale and boyfriend Andy tried Co-op’s Valentine deal, from £10
The deal: main, side and drink for £12 (£10 for members)
Available until: February 18
There were lots of options to choose from for our main, including Salmon En Croute, Mushroom Wellington and Beef Bourguignon, however we opted for the Irresistible Lasagne Al Forno, alongside (an obvious choice for us) Garlic & Parsley Flatbread.
We had no problems with cooking the dish, with the lasagne needing half an hour in the oven and the flatbread just 10 minutes.
It was the perfect size for two people, and creamy, rich and indulgent.
We washed it down with a bottle of Irresistible Prosecco, which at RRP £9, on its own would have cost nearly the price of the whole deal, but you could also choose from an array of wines and soft drinks.
Overall, it was definitely a great deal for the price and the quality, and we were two very happy customers.
Fashion Director Tracey Lea Sayer and husband Lewis tried Marks & Spencer’s Valentine’s deal via Ocado.com, £25
The deal: starter, main, side, dessert and drink for £25
Available until: while delivery slots have closed through Ocado, you can still pick up the meal deal in-store at Marks & Spencer today
I’m away on a charity trek in Costa Rica on Valentine’s day so my husband and I had to pull our romantic plans forward this year.
Ocado’s M&S delivery couldn’t have come at a better time – after a day of list checking and packing camping gear, it was a relief to just bang a few things in the oven and not have to slave over a hot stove.
I don’t eat meat, so we started with Coquilles St Jacques, which were creamy, light and delicious, followed by Salmon & Prawn En Croute, which was a little soggy if I’m honest, but we had it alongside some lovely fresh Mediterranean Roasting Veg.
We both loved the vert light Conte Priuli Veneto Blush, and the Two Become One Chocolate Praline Heart finished off the meal nicely.
Our third-wheel, working cocker Reggie, even enjoyed licking out the seafood shells when we’d finished!
Editor in Chief Sinead McIntyre and husband Alistair tried FieldGoods’ Valentine’s Bundle, £38
The deal: main, dessert, candle, 4 x cocktail cans
Available until: while stocks last
This meal was an absolute treat, and although it costs more than some other Valentine’s dine-at-home deals, it’s well worth the price for the gorgeous £45 hand-poured La Luna candle alone – perfect for setting the mood.
It also comes with four cans of Pimentae Spicy Margaritas that tasted as though they’d been whipped up right in front of us by a professional mixologist – and luckily Alistair isn’t a fan of margs, so while he poured himself a red wine, I got the lot!
But the main event was definitely the incredible spaghetti and Italian Meatballs, which took 40 minutes in the oven (or 10 in the microwave) and was the perfect portion of three large meatballs each.
FieldGoods is the brainchild of two chef brothers, who set out to deliver restaurant-quality meals at home, and I like that the dishes use free-range produce and arrive in fully compostible containers.
The Melt-In-The Middle Chocolate Brownie was to die for, especially served with ice cream on the side. All in all, a perfect Valentine’s meal.
Sinead Doohan’s tips to help you build inner confidence this Valentine’s Day
IF you want to embrace body positivity this Valentine's Day, look no further…
- Embrace inner acceptance
“True confidence comes from cultivating self-worth. Recognise that the beliefs you hold about yourself shape what you attract into your life. If you don’t love yourself or believe you’re worthy, you may unconsciously invite experiences that reflect those beliefs. To build inner acceptance practice gratitude for your body and surround yourself with people who affirm your worth.”
- Cultivate emotional self-awareness
“Body confidence grows when you understand your emotional triggers and how they influence your perception of your body. Instead of avoiding these feelings, challenge and reframe them. Wearing lingerie can be empowering when it comes from a place of self-love and self-acceptance.”
- Prioritise acts of self-love
“Small, intentional acts of self-love and self-care can have transformative effects. One such act is buying yourself beautiful lingerie, not for anyone else, but for yourself. Lingerie serves as a physical reminder of your worth, enhancing your connection to your body.
- Create space for self-celebration
“Celebrate yourself with rituals that nurture your confidence and self-worth. Whether through self-care, writing love letters to yourself, or reflecting on your growth, these acts remind you that you are worthy of love, joy, and celebration.
“Building confidence in relationships starts with strengthening your connection to yourself. To help you break free from limiting beliefs and build confidence. By shifting limiting beliefs, deepening emotional self-awareness, and embracing inner acceptance, you can break free from cycles of self-doubt and open the door to lasting love in your life. Embracing self-love will not only transform your relationship with yourself but also enhance how you connect with others.”
