As much as men bemoan the trials of
shopping for their wife or girlfriend, it must be said it’s infinitely harder
when the roles are reversed, particularly when it comes to Valentine’s Day.
Short of buying them a pair of tickets to the next England international at
Twickenham, a bottle of their favourite spirit or another shirt to add to their
collection, it can feel like you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel. Yes, we
might be stereotyping but the fact is, the Valentine’s gift market for women is
much, much bigger than for men. So here we are to lend a helping hand with some
original ideas that’ll blow their socks off (and no, we’re not suggesting a new
pair of socks).
If you’d rather have a day out together
and live in the South East, try the Greenwich
Observatory. For anyone with even the slightest
interest in space, the Planetarium shows are a remarkable experience, the
closest you’re likely to get to a trip to Mars in this lifetime anyway! Or
slightly further afield, motor enthusiasts will go potty for Beaulieu National Motor Museum in Hampshire. Home to an enormous collection of automobiles from F1
Grand Prix machines to famous cars from the silver screen, there’s even a ‘Top
Gear World’ to explore if you’re feeling particularly generous…
To up the romance-ante, an evening of
blues and jazz could be just the ticket and Brasserie Toulouse-Latrec in Kennington is something of a hidden gem. On Valentine’s Day you can
tuck into oyster canapés and smoked salmon while being serenaded by some of the
capital’s finest jazz crooners. For a gift that will last all year, it’s worth
considering a membership to one of their favourite museums or galleries – an
added incentive being that most include free entry for a guest. The Tate scheme is particularly appealing as it includes access to their
riverside Members’ restaurant. But if your partner is more of a film buff, a
year’s membership to the BFI is a fabulous way for them to indulge their passion. Each month
features different seasons, from Westerns and Golden Age classics to foreign
films and new releases.
So there you go, Valentine’s Day for
the man in your life all sewn up, no excuse for socks and ties this year!
No comments:
Post a Comment