Love Local, Love Valentine’s Day

It is time to celebrate Valentine’s Day in style from home and support our fantastic local businesses.

From fine-dining deliveries and chilled bottles of wine, to quirky cards and homemade gifts, there are plenty of ways you can mark the occasion.

So, let’s start with the gift. Although doors remain closed, lockdown has prompted a slew of new digital marketplaces offering fantastic products from local businesses, artists and producers.

Go browsing and buying on the Old High Street website, Remade Reloved or Made in Folkestone, to get your hands on a wide array of locally made gifts.

Sometimes a quirky Valentine’s Day card says more than a soppy one. Objectables offers a fantastic range of occasion cards that are sure to appeal to your humorous side!

Or why not give that floral feeling with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Stem by Stem is a favourite across Folkestone and they currently have a full range of stunning floral designs that will put a smile on your loved one’s face.

As well as gifting a heartfelt present, food and drink are up there as a popular Valentine’s Day pastime. Since it is important that we spend the 14^th at home and follow COVID-19 lockdown rules, we have pulled together a few options that will have your mouth watering.

You’ve first got to decide if you are planning on cooking at home, ordering-in, stocking up on a bottle of wine or two, or even choosing a food gift for your loved one to enjoy as dessert?

Rocksalt’s Valentine’s at Home offer is a special five-course Valentine’s menu designed for two to share and finish at home. There’s a choice of dishes including locally cured and smoked fish, beef wellington and cold chocolate and raspberry fondant. Order by 9^th February from www.rocksaltfolkestone.co.uk and collect from the restaurant on 13^th February.

For all you chocolate lovers out there, why not try Folkestone’s Plamil Foods. They have made plant-based food and drink for more than 60 years. The love heart gift box from their So Free range contains a pack of organic dairy-free milk chocolate alternative hearts, perfect for those with dietary requirements and allergies.

And you can’t beat a chilled bottle of English wine. Terlingham Vineyard’s online shop is stocked full of its natural sparkling and still wines to enjoy on Valentine’s Day or to give as a gift. Whilst you’re there, why not add a voucher for a vineyard walk and tasting to your order as a post-lockdown date to look forward to?

We would love to know how you choose to support local businesses this Valentine’s Day, so be sure to tag us in your posts so we can share.

@fhextraordinary