Londoners are officially the biggest spenders in the UK on Valentine’s Day. According to new figures from Parcel Hero the average person in the capital will fork out £70 on average to mark the occasion, either with gifts or a meal out with a loved one.
Nationwide – spending is expected to hit £2.38 billion this year – this is more than ever before. A 7% increase on last year and higher than levels across the EU. Who knew us Brits were so romantic?!
Valentine’s Day is evolving, and becoming more inclusive. Nearly half of Brits now view Valentine’s Day as a chance to celebrate all relationships, not just romantic ones. This philosophy has been driven by the celebrations of friendships, pets or even ourselves. Searches for ‘Galentines’, where females celebrate their friendships, has grown over 1600% in the past five years, according to the retail times. “Self-gifting” is one of the fastest growing Valentine’s spending categories, as people treat themselves instead of someone else.
With this increase in spending, City News wanted to see whether you need to splash the cash this Valentine’s Day. We taste tested Aldi’s budget meal deal for 2, whether that’s for your significant other, a friend or family.
Aldi Local in Greenwich
Overall we spent £10 on a 3 course meal.
Breaded cheese heart starter from Aldi for £2.49
Starter
The starter was £2.49 for four breaded cheese hearts, which came with a berry compote. These tasted good overall. A crispy coating and gooey cheese filling delivered on flavour but the compote leaned more tart than sweet. Presentation-wise they looked quite sad on the plates. The beigeness was calling out for some colour, like green salad to elevate the dish and make this starter V-Day approved. This would of course nudge the price up and make it less budget friendly….
Mains
Semi-dried tomato and mozzarella pizza – £2.99
For mains we went with the cheapest option of heart shaped pizzas at £2.99. One was spicy pepperoni, the other semi-dried tomato and mozzarella. And honestly? These were excellent. Generously topped and satisfyingly filling with a thick and crunchy crust. They felt far more indulgent than their price tag suggested. Offering both a meat and veggie option makes the choice inclusive, and at under £3 each, were excellent value for money.
Semi-dried mozzarella and spicy pepperoni pizza – £2.99 each
Dessert
For dessert we tried two s’mores cupcakes for £1.49. I wouldn’t recommend these if you were trying to impress someone special, but they would be great to share with mates for ‘galentines’ or ‘palentines.’ Soft, sweet and easy to share.
S’mores cupcake from Aldi – 2 for £1.49
Verdict
All in, Aldi’s £10 Valentine’s spread is quick, convenient and impressively affordable (especially in this economy). It won’t replace a Michelin-starred meal or a candlelit restaurant booking, but it proves that celebrating love doesn’t need to come with a hefty price tag.
We’re giving it a solid 3 stars.
For couples, friends or ‘self-gifters’ looking to dodge the Valentine’s Day markup, Aldi might just be the real sweetheart this year.
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HeadlineCan Londoners save money this Valentine’s?
Short HeadlineCan Londoners ditch a Valentine's day splurge?
Standfirst City News tried Aldi’s cheapest date night meal to find out
Londoners are officially the biggest spenders in the UK on Valentine’s Day. According to new figures from Parcel Hero the average person in the capital will fork out £70 on average to mark the occasion, either with gifts or a meal out with a loved one.
Nationwide – spending is expected to hit £2.38 billion this year – this is more than ever before. A 7% increase on last year and higher than levels across the EU. Who knew us Brits were so romantic?!
Valentine’s Day is evolving, and becoming more inclusive. Nearly half of Brits now view Valentine’s Day as a chance to celebrate all relationships, not just romantic ones. This philosophy has been driven by the celebrations of friendships, pets or even ourselves. Searches for ‘Galentines’, where females celebrate their friendships, has grown over 1600% in the past five years, according to the retail times. “Self-gifting” is one of the fastest growing Valentine’s spending categories, as people treat themselves instead of someone else.
With this increase in spending, City News wanted to see whether you need to splash the cash this Valentine’s Day. We taste tested Aldi’s budget meal deal for 2, whether that’s for your significant other, a friend or family.
Aldi Local in Greenwich
Overall we spent £10 on a 3 course meal.
Breaded cheese heart starter from Aldi for £2.49
Starter
The starter was £2.49 for four breaded cheese hearts, which came with a berry compote. These tasted good overall. A crispy coating and gooey cheese filling delivered on flavour but the compote leaned more tart than sweet. Presentation-wise they looked quite sad on the plates. The beigeness was calling out for some colour, like green salad to elevate the dish and make this starter V-Day approved. This would of course nudge the price up and make it less budget friendly….
Mains
Semi-dried tomato and mozzarella pizza – £2.99
For mains we went with the cheapest option of heart shaped pizzas at £2.99. One was spicy pepperoni, the other semi-dried tomato and mozzarella. And honestly? These were excellent. Generously topped and satisfyingly filling with a thick and crunchy crust. They felt far more indulgent than their price tag suggested. Offering both a meat and veggie option makes the choice inclusive, and at under £3 each, were excellent value for money.
Semi-dried mozzarella and spicy pepperoni pizza – £2.99 each
Dessert
For dessert we tried two s’mores cupcakes for £1.49. I wouldn’t recommend these if you were trying to impress someone special, but they would be great to share with mates for ‘galentines’ or ‘palentines.’ Soft, sweet and easy to share.
S’mores cupcake from Aldi – 2 for £1.49
Verdict
All in, Aldi’s £10 Valentine’s spread is quick, convenient and impressively affordable (especially in this economy). It won’t replace a Michelin-starred meal or a candlelit restaurant booking, but it proves that celebrating love doesn’t need to come with a hefty price tag.
We’re giving it a solid 3 stars.
For couples, friends or ‘self-gifters’ looking to dodge the Valentine’s Day markup, Aldi might just be the real sweetheart this year.
Chan was convicted earlier today at Wood Green Crown Court after pleading guilty to 56 charges including sexual assault and making indecent images of children.
