It doesn’t always just have to be dinner and sex…
BY MANGANARO, IMAGE BY INTERSTID
We all know the classic fantasy… You go catch the latest release starring Kristen Stewart, then off to your favourite veggie-friendly restaurant. The lighting is dim, your foot bumps theirs and next thing you know your clothes are in a heap at the end of the bed and you and your partner are – WAIT! Is this all there is!? Is this what the eternity of date nights looks like!? Is it all just dinner & sex?
Fear not, I’ve reached out to find out what our community’s top alternative date ideas are and how they spice up their lives outside of dinner and sex. Heads up, these also work for friends and this is not an extensive list; there’s a whole host of other ideas that didn’t make it in, like cabaret/live performance nights, café dates, or visiting a garden centre!
Picnic and a long walk
Kicking off on a budget-friendly day out which is easy for wherever you live. Pack a picnic filled with sandwiches (pesto and cheese is my favourite combo) and snacks galore and take a lovely long walk through a woodland, mountain range, or local park, grab a blanket, and enjoy!
Aquarium or animal sanctuary
For the animal lovers out there (or the lesbians who can’t have a cat because they’re in a rental) take a visit to your local animal sanctuary, farm, or aquarium. They vary in price but most will offer concession rates or year passes. Plymouth is home to the UK’s largest aquarium.
Escape room
Definitely best for a double date or a group of friends, I promise you’ll all be closer by the end of it. If you fear a Freddy Krueger jump scare, don’t worry, there are loads of calmer options, like in London there’s an escape room where you can steal the royal jewels.
Museum
For those of us needing to nerd out and dig through the archives, take a trip to a museum. Many are free entry, while others ask for donations. If you’re in need of some queer history Bishop’s Gate Institute and Queer Britain in London are both a must. Brighton Museum also loves to embed LGBTQIA folk into its city’s shelves and the Glasgow Women’s Library is filled with feminism!
Shopping
Now I’m not just talking about any old shopping day, I’m talking about raiding charity shops to hunt down our favourite fashion staples. Visit some local craft markets and support queer creatives. Do a book crawl of your local independent bookshops (I recently picked up Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion from The Feminist Bookshop in Brighton)
Beach
While the weather is nice, take a trip to the beach. Roll out a blanket, put on your sunnies and dip your chips in your favourite sauce! Cute couple’s idea: try to find a stone that matches your partner’s eyes or vibes.
Workshop
For those of you interested in the arts, search for some local artists because they are the first to share about any upcoming creative workshops; a perfect way to add a personal touch to your home. If you’re in the Bath/Bristol area, Pottymouthregularly runs pottery workshops in a whole host of locations.
Cooking
I’ve saved my favourite for last, cooking together is an amazing way to enjoy domestic life. I recently picked up Rainbow Bowls by Niki Webster and my partner and I have been having a blast by taking it in turns to choose dinner.
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