Love is in the air and it’s time to spoil those you care about most with a romantic Valentine’s Day treat. But what can you plan for Valentine’s Day in Maidstone this year? A bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates is no longer enough when those around you are making grand gestures and sharing across social media. And, while a trip to Paris or New York, or even the grandest of all romantic gifts – a sparkling diamond ring – may be beyond your means, you want to do something extra special and different from the rest.

At Visit Maidstone, we’ve taken a look into some of the best options for Valentine’s Day in Maidstone, and provided a few suggestions to ensure your day is truly unforgettable. Take a look at the options below and get your plans for Valentine’s Day in Maidstone in order.

Wildlife Heritage Foundation

For something truly different, book your place at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Smarden for a Valentine’s Day dinner among the glorious Kent countryside and some of nature’s most impressive creatures. A perfect combination of fine dining, sparkling champagne, and an overnight stay in one of the intimate on-site lodges, this romantic retreat also features guided walking tours of and the chance to hand feed some of the big cats resident at the sanctuary.

Prices for this romantic Valentine’s weekend begin at £850 per lodge, and include a complimentary bottle of champagne in each lodge.

Valentine’s Weekend at Castle View Restaurant

Nothing beats a spectacular view to add to the romance of an occasion and, when it comes to heading out in the South East, few venues offer quite such a breathtaking vista as the Castle View Restaurant at Leeds Castle. Spend a romantic evening enjoying fine wine and a specially devised menu, and soak up the atmosphere from one of the region’s most auspicious attractions.

Prices for a Valentine’s Day meal at the Castle View Restaurant start at £35 per person.

Valentine's Day Wheel Throwing

Who can forget the iconic scene from 1990’s ‘Ghost’ with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore at the pottery wheel? Well, now’s your chance to relive that scene with your significant other… well, kind of. This Art of Mine is hosting enjoyable pottery sessions that enable you to create your very own message of love on a plaque. Who knows, maybe ‘Unchained Melody’ will even be playing in the background for some added romance.

Prices for the Valentine’s Dat Wheel Throwing at This Art of Mine are £40 per couple.

Let us know your plans

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day in Maidstone this year? Do you have something booked already, or are you just going to wing it on the day? Let us know what you have planned in the comments section below.

Planning a visit to Maidstone, whether for a day, a week, or even longer, means being able to carefully plan an itinerary that packs in everything you want to see and do, without missing the key attractions. Of course, one of the most important parts of planning any getaway is being able to find the best places to eat, drink, and have fun.

Across Maidstone, the range of restaurants, cafes, gastropubs, diners, and takeaways covers almost every taste and every budget. From traditional Kentish fare featuring the very best in local produce, to continental and international cuisine to ignite the tastebuds, there is the opportunity to savour a different style of meal on every night of your visit. Whether it’s vegetarian cooking or something that looks like it came straight from the menu of a Masterchef finalist, eating out in Maidstone is a great affair.

But don’t just take our word for it. Get out and about to some of the very best places to eat in Maidstone and leave us details on your favourites below.

Fortify Cafe

Address: 32 High Street, Maidstone, ME14 1JF
Cuisine: Vegetarian/vegan

One of the most popular offerings in all of Maidstone, Fortify Café may well be small in stature, but has a magnificent reputation among diners. It’s not always easy for vegetarians and vegans to find a dining selection as varied as that on offer at Fortify Café and, for those that have a wheat, gluten, or dairy intolerance, it’s harder even still. Home-cooked from fresh, local ingredients, Fortify Café really does provide a dining experience to remember.

The Mulberry Tree

Address: Hermitage Lane, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, ME17 4DA
Cuisine: Contemporary British/European

Set in the village of Boughton Monchelsea on the outskirts of Maidstone, the wonderful Mulberry Tree restaurant offers exceptional cuisine in a delightful location surrounding by Kentish countryside. Having a prestigious, award-winning reputation, the contemporary cuisine fuses modern British and European styles, and makes use of fresh, organic ingredients from local suppliers. Also featuring an extensive wine list – with many offerings from local vineyards – a single meal at the Mulberry Tree will reveal precisely why the restaurant has developed such an illustrious reputation.

Mu Mu

Address: 108-110 Week Street, Maidstone, ME14 1RH
Cuisine: Modern

For something altogether different in your dining experience, a visit to Mu Mu on Week Street provides a sense of theatre to any meal. Imaginative in presentation, unique in style, and adopting a ‘molecular’ approach to the development of dishes, the food served at Mu Mu is as opulent and creative as the surroundings in which you dine. What’s more, the magnificent selection of cocktails to be enjoyed alongside your food ensures that each and every meal served promises to be an experience to remember.

The Bull at Linton

Address: Linton Hill, Linton, Maidstone, ME17 4AW
Cuisine: Traditional

If you value location as highly as you do food, few places offer such a breathtaking setting as the Bull at Linton. The views from the decked garden, gazing out across fields of traditional Kent countryside, and an authentic pub feel in a building that dates back to the 16th century, the Bull at Linton provides time-honoured pub fare that is complemented by a truly magnificent backdrop. From a Sunday carvery to light snacks, a cosy restaurant to bites at the bar, lunch or dinner at the Bull at Linton ensures a taste of Kentish life for all visitors.

Castle View Restaurant

Address: Leeds Castle, Maidstone, ME17 1PL
Cuisine: Traditional

No review of dining opportunities in Maidstone would be complete with mention of the Castle View Restaurant. Offering an exceptional dining experience in full view of the ‘Loveliest Castle in the World’, the restaurant prides itself on enabling the quality of the locally sourced produce used to shine through in every meal prepared. From the tender lamb of the South Downs, to the crisp, fresh vegetables, Kentish ice cream, and local cheeses of the surrounding regions, you can be assured that the only thing more enchanting than the castle views will be the gastronomic delights in front of you.

Do you have a favourite restaurant or place to dine in Maidstone? Perhaps you can help others enjoy a magnificent meal during their time in the region. Let us know your favourite dining experiences in the comments selection below.

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About the author

Michael is a member of the marketing team at Visit Maidstone and is an experienced writer. He has a passion for history and cinema, and likes nothing more than combining the two. View more by Michael.