Love is in the air (if you aren’t thinking of the John Paul Young song, where have you been?). If you’ve been left with making V-day plans and are on a low budget, we see you... Here’s a few ideas to keep you out of the doghouse or popular amongst friends. 

If you’re a foodie, then you only accept the best and lucky for you Leeds offers 5-star dining on the cheap, giving you a taste of true love. On the menu is... 

A Taste of Asia 

Jino’s Thai Cafe (Headingley), TADA (Headingley), Yo! (Trinity)  

Soups, salads, sharing plates, you name it, Jino’s has it. You will arguably find the best Pad Thai ever in here, a Chuang beer and even cheeky dessert. There are many options available for vegan and vegetarians too. Try out the Paneng, you won’t regret it! 

You’ll never know the feeling of ‘ta-da’ until they bring over the plate. It really is a celebration of all the senses. Serving sushi, ramen, bento boxes and cocktails, get your reservations sorted ASAP.  

Yo! is a staple sushi restaurant saving you some cash. You can get 33% off with your UNIdays account between Sunday and Fridays.  

Pizza Pizza Pizza 

DoughBoys (Belgrave Music Hall), Rudy’s (Headingley/ New Station Street), Pizza Express (Trinity/ Headingley) 

We couldn’t put them all, so we whittled them down to the famous three!  

DoughBoys, located in Belgrave, has the best NY style pizza in all shapes and sizes. The only problem you’ll have is having to share with your date.  

Can’t afford a trip to Italy? Rudy’s is a taste of true Neapolitan pizza and the next best thing. Averaging at £13.50 a pizza, you can’t say no. 

Pizza Express, an old classic and a budget-friendly date. Get 25% off the full bill (with a UNIdays account) or get their Valentine’s deal including 2 courses and a cocktail for £26!  

But if you’re fancying something a little more laid back, you can get a large pizza and side from Dominos delivered to The Hive for only £15! Just make sure you’re ordering on the Dominos app.  

Burgers Galore 

Patty’s (Belgrave Music Hall), Fat Hippo (Headingley) 

Another Belgrave resident is Patty’s serving the best smash burgers and session fries. Keep it classic with their Patty’s Beef Smash or show your date you’re adventurous with their Karaage Chicken Burger. If you’re vegan or veggie, you don’t have to miss out, there’s options available.  

Ever fancied peanut butter and bacon jam on a burger? Us neither, but Fat Hippo will give you the biggest burger you’ll ever lay your eyes upon. With a range of crazy concoctions and classic favourites, it’s not one to miss.  

Still a foodie but wanting to stay in this year? Or don’t fancy suffering from a food coma in a restaurant? Get yourself a meal-for-two at Tesco, Morrisons,  Asda, Sainsbury’s, or if you’re wanting to splash the cash, M&S! Ranging from £11.97 to £25, you’ll be able to score 3 courses and drinks, all in the comfort of your own home.   

But if you want to really impress your date, then try cook your own meal from scratch! It doesn’t have to be expensive. There’s some good budget-friendly recipes around that taste good (if not better) than a restaurant. If you want to make a day of it and get all fresh ingredients, head to Kirkgate Market and explore all your options.  

There’s no date without... an activity! Leeds is home to many great places that can show your skills, competitiveness or your goofy laugh.  

Junkyard Golf takes a serious twist on crazy golf. With three 9-hole golf courses, all in different themes, this is great fun with or without their crazy cocktails.  

HiFi club has been home to comedy clubs for over 20 years. Giving everyone the giggles, you’ll get to see stand-ups with a mix of familiar names and up-and-comers.  

If live music and a spicy marg is your vibe, you’ll love it at Rita’s. Kitted out with leopard print pool tables, endless flavours of frozen margaritas and plenty of pizza margaritas, it’s impossible for your date to end up badly. 

Roxy Ballrooms is where it’s at for a competitive date, so proceed with caution. Bowling, darts, pool, karaoke are only a few of the things they have on offer.  

Black Cat Club is the new kid on the block and giving you games galore. Not only does it have live sports but is also giving you darts with six different modes and shuffleboard!