The most romantic date of the year is coming up, so it’s time to start thinking about ways to make your loved one feel truly special.

Whether it’s a lovey-dovey dinner and drinks, a cosy night at the cinema or a memorable weekend getaway, we’ve got some great ideas and recommendations that are sure to land you in your partner’s good books this Valentine’s Day.

OUT FOR DRINKS

If you’re looking for a pre-dinner cocktail to toast Valentine’s Day or a decent bottle of wine to share on a Friday night, look no further.

Our new undercover reporter has started sniffing out Kent’s best wine bars and cocktail lounges in the new fortnightly column, In The Mix.

The first venue on the list is The Fig in Canterbury, which replaced Prohibition-style speakeasy Bramley’s and has been praised for its signature drinks and friendly atmosphere. The espresso martini was a particular favourite if that’s your other half’s chosen tipple.

Or perhaps you and your partner would prefer to find a quiet nook in a traditional pub, in which case our reliable reviewer, Secret Drinker, is sure to have some recommendations in store.

So far this year, Secret Drinker has found some sparkling gems in Kent’s pub scene including The Swan in Little Chart, a historic 16th-century pub that is haunted by no less than three ghosts, and the Artillery Arms in Ramsgate, a no-frills corner pub that ticked every box.

If you want to try somewhere different, we’ve got a list of new bars and pubs that Kent punters should visit this year. From quirky cabaret lounges to revived backstreet boozers, there’s something for everyone, so why not shake things up a little?

There’s a deal to be had at The Hatch in Gravesend, which is offering a night of darts and drinks for £25, and a more upmarket affair at Silverhand Estate, also in Gravesend, with a celebration of its Silver Reign sparkling rosé.

DINNER DATE

Each week, our reporters search far and wide for the best bites in the county and share their honest thoughts in Eat My Words.

Not every one is a hit, but so far this year a handful of restaurants have earned the thumbs up from us and could be the perfect place for your Valentine’s Day dinner.

We’ve sampled delectable seafood at Buoy and Oyster in Margate, indulged in an Indian feast at Melad Tandoori in Maidstone, and tried the authentic pierogi at family-run Polish restaurant Engel’s Paradise in Deal – all of which are sure to impress your dining companion.

We also recently announced the finalists for this year’s Kent & Medway Food & Drink Awards, including three eateries in the running for Restaurant of the Year.

The top-voted restaurants of the year are Gurkha Fire in Chatham, a Nepalese restaurant inside a converted fire station; The Ivy in Canterbury, which opened last year with queues around the block; and Stubbs in Ashford, a seafood restaurant with a decent cocktail menu.

The finalists for this year’s awards have been nominated by you, our readers, so you know that these places have been tried and tested by countless people all over Kent.

Finally, if you or your partner are fussy eaters who just like to keep things simple, a number of chain restaurants are launching special Valentine’s menus this year.

Miller and Carter, Zizzi, TGI Fridays, Ask Italian, Brewers Fayre and Harvester are all introducing a set menu for Valentine’s Day, and all of them have at least one location in the county.

A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

A trip to the cinema is a classic Valentine’s date and you simply can’t beat a night in front of the big screen.

Ashford Cinema has a deal where you can catch one of the week’s new releases - romantic comedy Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy or Marvel’s latest superhero adventure Captain America: Brave New World - and enjoy two pizzas for £15 either before or after the film.

If neither of those take your fancy, the cinema is also putting on a special screening of Noël Coward’s 1945 romance Brief Encounter to celebrate the film’s 80th anniversary.

Another love story hitting a milestone this year is Pretty Woman. The 1990 rom-com starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere turns 35 years old and, to mark the occasion, Cineworld in Rochester and Ashford and Vue in Broadstairs are showing the film on Valentine’s Day.

No cinema date is complete without snacks. Showcase Cinema de Luxe at Bluewater, in Greenhithe, is offering a money-saving Valentine’s Combo that includes two tickets, two cans of sparkling wine, one large popcorn and a bag of sweets.

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

Valentine’s Day is a chance to really push the boat out and do something special.

The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is offering a dining experience set aboard an authentic steam carriage. The dinner includes a welcome drink, a four-course meal and a trip through the coast and countryside.

Treat yourself and your loved one to a pamper session hosted by high street beauty brand, Lush. The Canterbury store is putting on a relaxing afternoon of hand and arm massages using the special Valentine’s Day range of products, and there’s a drink in it for you both too.

If you were planning on buying your Valentine a box of chocolates as a gift, why not go one step further and sign up for a chocolate-making workshop? Temper Temper Chocolate in Southborough is hosting a two-hour masterclass where you can learn how to create your own bars and truffles.

For the music lovers, there’s a cosy candlelight concert where you can snuggle up and enjoy some of the world’s most romantic songs. Fever’s Candlelight Concert returns to the Corn Exchange in Rochester for a night of covers performed in the glow of hundreds of candles. String quartet Weddington Strings will play hits such as Unchained Melody, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, My Heart Will Go On and more.

STAY FOR THE WEEKEND

This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday so it’s a perfect excuse to book a weekend getaway and spend some quality time with your partner.

In December, we put together a guide to some of Kent’s most luxurious hotels that would make fantastic staycation destinations this year. The hotels range from opulent spa resorts to grand castles and country lodges, and would turn your Valentine’s Day into a memorable weekend away.

One of the locations on our list, Leeds Castle near Maidstone, is laying on a romantic candle-lit dinner for couples followed by a night inside the castle if you’re looking to really sweep someone off their feet.

Finally, Britain’s oldest brewery, Shepherd Neame, is running a promotional offer across many of its pubs and hotels for Valentine’s Day.

The deal includes a one-night stay with bed and breakfast, a three-course meal and a glass of Kentish Kir. While you’re there, you can enjoy one of Sheps’ classic beers such as Spitfire, Whitstable Bay and Master Brew.