Valentine's Ideas in Hackney and Stoke Newington for 2012

Well, snowing it may be (... maybe ...) but at least we have Valentine's Day looming to thaw us out. We don't want to repeat ourselves so for some ideas we've already put out, in 2011, see our restaurant guide for lovers and our gift suggestions from last Valentines. But plenty has changed in N16 since this time last year too, so here are a few up to date thoughts on Valentines Day in the borough.

Yumyum are doing a special Valentine's menu this year (with a veggie option) which includes some gorgeous dishes, such as "forever love", "lonely heart" and "the old flame". It may not be the most intimate venue in Stokey, but it's a beautiful one and the food is guarunteed to please. Reservations can be made by telephone, and the Valentine's menu is £35 a head.

Homa are also putting on a special spread for the love season: it's not a set menu, so there's plenty to choose from, including rock oysters with prosecco, steak with oxtail sauce and couples chocolate dessert.

And The Tea Rooms are putting on a special Valentine's afternoon tea on the run-up to the big day, so if you want to avoid the crowds then get down there next weekend and enjoy sandwiches, heart-shaped scones, desserts, cakes, tea, prosecco and chocolate hearts at either 12.30, 2.30 or 4.30.

Further up the road in Hoxton, The Hoxton Apprentice have their own Valentine menu, including duck terrine, sea bass and rum flavoured banana fritters with chocolate and hazelnut icecream *dribbles*. This is somewhere for people who like to spread that loving feeling all year round, as it's a social enterprise restaurant that trains up locals who have been out of work for long periods of time and gets them back in the swing of things. The head chef is an ex-apprentice of the restaurant himself, and as well as putting together the valentine's menu he will also be running a cooking class next week for anyone who wants to learn how to woo with food themselves. The class is running on Tuesday (7th), just in time for the big day and costs £55.

And if you don't fancy food then The Rio is running a special Valentine's screening of the quirky cult classic 'Harold and Maude'. Perfect for anyone who's heart has ever thought outside the box. 

And Barb Jungr returns to The Vortex for another year to serenade us all with classy love songs from the likes of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. Heralded by Time Out New York as "extraordinary" she has been voted Cabaret Act of 2011 and tickets won't last much longer so be quick.

For a bit of a party check out Baby Bath House on the 14th, as they run down the biggest selling love choons and power ballads of the 80s and 90s. Hairbrushes optional.

And if you're stuck for gift ideas then check out our suggestions, or maybe make the most of Sunstone's 20% off massages.

If you know of any other good valetines menus or gifts then let us know in the comments' box below.