Things to do in Hackney on Valentine’s Day

There will be 20 artists, including Mamoru Iriguchi (pictured), dating live at Stoke Newington International Airport, 7pm Saturday 19 February

Hackney abounds in romantic haunts ideal for a Valentine’s Day meeting with your lover. Here are some of the Citizen’s ideas.

Water is a good place to start. For reasons only known to the likes of Sigmund Freud, the presence of shimmering waves and languid pools arouses both senses and sensibilities. And fortunately, Hackney is a wet borough.

The Lea River and linking canals – Regents Canal and the Lea Navigation – are without a doubt the most promising. Particularly good spots to steal a kiss or a fumble include: Hackney Wick at the junction of the two waterways, the waterside bit of Springfield Park, and the Middlesex Filter Beds nature reserve.

Next on any list would be parks: Hackney Marshes is vast enough to get up to just about anything without too many people noticing. For more genteel spots, try stately Victoria Park (technically just over the border in Tower Hamlets, but within easy reach of most Hackneyites), upper Springfield Park, or lush and secluded Abney Park Cemetery. (Clissold Park would normally feature prominently here, though the building works currently underway there make it less-than-attractive to moon-eyed couples).

You can prepare for the day by visiting the Shame: Collectible Lingerie by Artists exhibition at The Residence Gallery in Victoria Park (4-27 February), where ten artists will present sartorial offerings to fire your spirit and imagination. On the night, put a cultural slant to your celebrations by heading to the Vortex Jazz Club where Barb Jungr will serenade you with love songs as part of their Valentine’s Day special evening.

Clubbing-wise there is much to entertain those late-night lovebirds. On 12 February, the Moustache Bar in Stoke Newington features all-girl tag team MEBR at My Ex-boyfriend presents Stupid Cupid, complete with a musical vicar on hand to wed happy couples.

On the same day Lively at the Nest (formerly Barden’s Boudoir) hosts international love machine Riva Starr alongside Rachel Barton and Christian Nockall, while on Valentine’s night itself the Macbeth get in the mood with a Sexfest Party, presenting live music from the Rent Boys and more DJs than you can shake a dozen red roses at.

Restaurants ideally suited to romance include Yum Yum (posh Thai) and Il Bacio Express (Italian) in Stoke Newington, the Empress of India in Victoria Park (with two-for-one cocktails), or the Waterhouse on Regents Canal.

Some will undoubtedly have special requirements on the big V day: they will need a partner supplied to their romantic spot. Fortunately for local singles, a number of venues have already got this eventuality covered. Check out the singles nights to be held at Chatsworth Kitchen in Clapton, or Stoke Newington International Airport’s Live Art Speed Date event on 19 February from 7pm -10pm (Tickets available here).

Chatsworth Kitchen
62 Chatsworth Road E5 0LS

Empress of India
130 Lauriston Road E9 7LH
020 8533 5123

Il Bacio Express
90 Stoke Newington Church St
London N16 0AP
020 7249 2344

The Macbeth
70 Hoxton St
City of London N1 6LP
020 7749 0600

The Moustache Bar
58 Stoke Newington Road N16 7XB

The Nest
36 Stoke Newington Road N16 7XJ
020 7354 9993

Stoke Newington International Airport
1-15 Leswin Place N16 7NJ

The Residence Gallery
229 Victoria Park Road E9 7HD

Vortex Jazz Club
11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
020 7254 4097

Waterhouse Restaurant
10 Orsman Road
N1 5QJ
020 7033 0123

Yum Yum
187 Stoke Newington High Street,
N16 0LH
020 7254 6751