Don’t fancy wining and dining this Valentine’s Day? Why not try something a little different!
Jake and I have been together for four years this February, and are yet to try some of these dates, but they’re on the bucket list!
If you and your date are more adventurous, want to break the mould of traditional dating, or just fancy a change – then here are some amazing places you could visit in Hanley and Newcastle.
ROFL Comedy Club
Who doesn’t love a giggle? ROFL Comedy Club have been based in Lymelight Boulevard, Newcastle, for a few months now. Every Friday and Saturday there is a whole host of comedians to entertain you for two and a half hours. This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, and you could watch Mike Newall, Carl Jones & Steve Harris for just £12 per person.
Catch a movie
We have three major cinemas between Hanley and Newcastle:
Odeon – cheap, cheerful, easy parking
Cineworld – slightly pricier but better atmosphere
Vue – recliner chairs. Need I say more?
Film suggestions: 1917, Little Women, Bad Boys For Life, The Gentlemen, Jumanji: The Next Level
Paralysis Escape Rooms
More of a thrill seeker? Love a horror movie? Lads, this is the perfect opportunity to show your lady just how well you’d protect them.
Paralysis Escape Rooms opened in Hanley around Halloween, and I went to scout out the place with owner Damon. Safe to say the creepy cursed picture frames and horror memorabilia gave me chills, and that was before I was shown down to the basement where the Phobia escape room is held. In my short visit (trust me I ran out faster than you could say the word ghost), I was blooming petrified – and I didn’t even play the game!
Perhaps a date more suited to people that aren’t an absolute wuss like myself.
Ninja Warrior
For those perhaps slightly physically fitter than I, Ninja Warrior is a great date. Jake and I visited Ninja Warrior a few months back, and even though I was dreadful it was still a real laugh. You can test your strength and ability and compete with your bestie to climb the warped wall or the spinning log.
This date will set you back £10 per person – and you might just come out a ninja at the end of it!
Hanley XPVR
Take virtual reality to the next level at XPVR in Hanley’s Cultural Quarter. Experiences start from £5, but from £20 you can experience arenas, the walk station or the escape rooms.
There’s nothing like slaying zombies or escaping a lost pyramid with your partner in crime, right?
Axe throwing
RAGE have very recently opened their indoor axe throwing and airsoft venue in the city centre (behind CEX). The venue has six lanes for axe throwing to channel your inner Viking and let off some steam.
If wielding an axe doesn’t scream romance, what does? You can get a ticket for two for just £31 on their website here.
If you prefer to shoot guns, then you can try out their airsoft lanes for£25 for two people!
Clubhouse Mini Golf
I love Clubhouse, and have visited them in Newcastle a few times now! It’s certainly filled a gap in the market, as Staffordshire was lacking something like this. The course is very ‘DIY’ with a rustic vibe, with little beer barrel tables to put your drinks on as you take on the course. There is a neon room with Stoke-inspired artwork, and some really cool, innovative games that bring out the competitive side in anyone.
For Valentine’s Day, you can get a free welcome drink with a pre-booked game, which costs £12 per person. You could even have a game of table tennis or beer pong! Word of warning though – card only! No cash payments.
Laser Quest
Just around the corner from Clubhouse is Laser Quest – one of the most tense and exhausting dates you’ll encounter. You could both join the same team, or go head to head with your separate teams featuring other contenders. You could be a ‘hide and shoot’ type, or go in all (laser) guns blazing. On Valentine’s Day, a game will cost just £5 per person, or £8.50 per person for two games.
Inflato
Based on Festival Park, this giant inflatable park will blow your mind. Isn’t it every adults dream to just let loose on an adult-sized bouncy castle?
Inflato has an obstacle course, an air bed, a bungee run and basketball hoop in their 12k squared feet venue. This will cost £9.99 per person for an hour, and although I’ve not been myself, I’ve been reliably informed an hour is more than enough time to wear yourself out!
