5 romantic ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Tees Valley

Come dine with me

If you think romance, you probably picture a candlelit dinner. While the candles are optional, the food is simply a must!

With bars and restaurants to serve every taste and appetite, from the award-winning Italian fare at Al Forno, or the fiery curries at Akbars, to a taste of the Med at Casa Del Mar, or the classic parmos and Afro-Caribbean fusion of Manjaros, find your ideal Valentine’s meal with our guide to Tees Valley restaurants here.

One thing’s for sure – on Valentine’s evening, every couple in the entire Tees Valley will descend on eateries all across the region for dinner, so be sure to book ahead!

There’s nothing like a breath of fresh air

Romantic strolls have been tried and tested for hundreds of years – with gorgeous natural scenery plus plenty of peace and quiet, a walk can be the perfect setting for a proper heart-to-heart whether you’ve just met or you’ve known each other for years.

The Tees Valley is filled with wonderful parks that could provide the perfect setting for a romantic walk. Enjoy the elegance of South Park in Darlington, the magical woodland of Fairy Dell in Middlesbrough, the Victorian magnificence of Ward Jackson Park in Hartlepool, the splendid Ropner Park in Stockton, or maybe the pretty gardens and boating lake at Locke Park in Redcar.

If you like your scenery to feel a little wilder, why not wander through the trees of Guisborough Forest or Wynyard Woodland Park?

Or, of course, why not take advantage of our fabulous North Sea coastline? Amble along the pretty Hartlepool Marina, stroll to the end of the magnificent Saltburn Pier and get a lungful of sea air, or how about giving this age-old tradition a uniquely Teesside twist and sharing a tasty lemon top on the beautiful Redcar promenade?

Sometimes you just want to be pampered

Relax, chill out, and spoil your significant other (or yourself!) at one of the Tees Valley’s luxury spas. Whether you want to unwind in the sauna or choose from a wide range of blissful beauty treatments, find your inner tranquillity at Rockliffe Hall, Wynyard Hall or Headlam Hall and Hotel.

Get out and have some fun

If you’re looking for a more energetic way to spend this special day instead, the region still has heaps of options to keep you entertained.

Why not test out your teamwork and puzzle-solving skills at one of the Tees Valley’s fiendish escape rooms, such as Cluedini in Yarm or Darlington, or Project Escape in Middlesbrough?

Or if you fancy going head-to-head in something a little more competitive, hit the lanes at DC Bowl and see who can get the first strike. Or give urban axe throwing a go at Hatchet Harry’s in Middlesbrough.

If you’ve got the whole day off and you aren’t particularly bothered about staying dry, how about trying out a watersport like stand up paddleboarding or thundercat racing at Hartlepool Marina or jump on a white-water raft at the Tees Barrage and get your adrenaline pumping.

Or maybe you just want to grab a colourful cocktail, find the nearest dancefloor and throw some shapes? We’ve got you covered, from KU Bar in Stockton to Middlesbrough’s Townhouse. Discover our guide to Tees Valley pubs, bars and cocktails here.

You can’t go wrong with popcorn

It’s tradition. Lean back in those soft cinema seats, fill up on snacks, and share a film on the big screen.

Whether at the classy Showcase Cinema de Lux at Teesside Park, the reasonably-priced Vue in Darlington or Hartlepool, or even the seafront Art Deco setting of the newly rebuilt Regent in Redcar, cinemas across the Tees Valley will be showing romantic classics and brand-new releases alike, so you are sure to find a showing to suit all tastes.