10 Valentine’s Day gift ideas to get you from funk to bunk

By I Love MCR
Updated 2 years ago
Published 7 February 2020

City of Manchester, Shopping

If you’re struggling with what to buy for your loved one this Valentine’s, fear not. You’re definitely not alone.

It’s a tricky one to get right, especially if you’re in a new relationship. Go too serious and you might freak them out. Don’t try at all and you might scupper your chances altogether.

From aubergine bath bombs to couples ‘face mash’ socks, here are some ideas to get you out of your Valentine’s funk.

Aubergine and peach emoji bath bombs – for the cheeky bath lover

Lush’s aubergine and peach emoji-inspired bath bombs are a perfect cheeky Valentine’s present, especially for anyone that loves a long, hot soak. Add a bit of humour into the mix with one of these and maybe even earn yourself an invite into the tub.

Boozy sweets – for the love that doesn’t want to grow up

Find alcoholic cocktail gummies, alcoholic sherbet dipper lollies and edible scents galore at boozy confectioners shop Smith and Sinclair. Created by Melanie Goldsmith and Emile Bernard, what started out as an ice breaker for dating events is now a fully fledged grown-up sweetie business.

A USB mixtape – for the retro music lover

Take it back to the days when you could actually record straight onto a tape and give it to your other half with this USB mixtape. Fitted into a retro-looking case, you can write on your tracklisting and even name the tape. The music, meanwhile, is stored on a 1GB USB memory stick that you can upload from your computer.

Personalised love hearts – for the sentimental sweet tooth

Swizzles, the company that makes Love Hearts, have a personalisation service that allows you to put your own messages on their sweeties so you can tailor them for your own sweetheart. Shipped direct from their factory to your door, upload your chosen text and images onto the wrappers from home, then just sit back and wait.

Hand embroidered his and hers socks – for the couple that’s joined at the hip

For the cutest couples, these hand embroidered socks are just adorable. Available in sets for couples of all denominations, choose from soft everyday cotton socks in navy blue with light blue dots and fluffy, light pink cashmere bed socks.

Super Socks ‘face mash’ socks – for the kooky couple that loves a laugh

Digital sock-printing company Super Socks have recently moved into Selfridge’s, meaning you can get ANYTHING you want printed on a pair of socks. Well, within reason. These face mash socks take things one step further though by fusing yours and your loved one’s faces together in sock immortality.

A Slattery’s chocolate bear – for the chocolate addict

As with flowers, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with chocolate. And Slattery’s make some of the best around. This cute little guy is comprised of a mix of milk and white chocolate and carries a pink chocolate love heart for that added sweet touch. Find him in House Of Fraser or go directly to the Whitefield shop.

A scratch-off date calendar – for the person who values experience over everything else

Do you feel like your partner could do with a bit of a nudge in the right direction when it comes to planning your dates? Give them some inspiration with this scratch-off date calendar from Moonpig. From wine-tastings to beach days, there are 100 different date ideas to uncover.

Flowers – for the old school romantic

If in doubt, you simply can’t go wrong with flowers. There are some beautiful florists in the city centre, but our favourite has to be Northern Flower Co in the Northern Quarter. Here you can pick your flowers yourself, or have the team construct a charming winter bouquet for your loved one in advance. You’ll also find a collection of quirky potted plants here if you think your other half too sustainably-minded for fresh cut flowers.

The new Remington MUFC styling range – for the Reds fan in your life

This year, those searching for Valentine’s gifts for MUFC’s fans are spoilt for choice with Remington and Manchester United’s new co-branded styling products. Electric shavers, beard trimmers, hairdryers and stylers come complete in club colours and emblazoned with the legendary Manchester United crest – a match made in heaven for any Manchester United Fan.

A personalised “I love you more than’ coaster – for the Blues fan in your life

Ok so this definitely works for City fans, but really its appeal is much broader because you have to put in the names yourself. If your worried your other half loves Vincent or Pep more than you, this is a great way to give them a ribbing for it whilst still letting them know you care.

The perfect card – for the finishing touch, because everyone appreciates a card

So you’ve got the present, but forget the accompanying card at your peril. Scribblr in The Royal Exchange has a great selection, ranging from the nice to the naughty. This Valentine’s, they’ve also teamed up with Breast Cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel. They will be spreading the love by donating a percentage of sales from their Scribbler x
Coppafeel range to the charity.

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