Labours of love
One Valentine's Day, I remember, a local romantic was so keen to pop the magic question to his sweetheart in style that he handed me a dinner plan listed in precise bullet points. Rose petals were to be laid at their feet while they were being shown to their table, and the house band was to play Barry White's You're My Everything as dinner was served. Dinner was a five-course menu of his partner's favourite dishes, except for the third course, oysters, in one of which was to be placed the largest sparkler I have ever seen. Its diameter must have been that of a 10p piece.
"The only problem was that when the oysters arrived the lady turned to her man and said, ‘I'm allergic to shellfish. Can't we have something else?' The poor guy almost had a heart attack, though he finally convinced her to open the one shell in question."
Dave Page, Sandton Hilton, South Africa
"My brother asked me to help him organise his first Valentine's Day after he got married. He planned moody lighting, romantic music and all the rest at a hotel in Staffordshire. He gave me the key to his room, where I set up and lit 200 candles, most of which were around the bath; scattered rose petals in the bath and all over the floor; arranged a dozen red roses on the bed; Champagne on ice next to the bath; and, last but not least, tuned up the guitar. Yes, I had asked a friend to play their favourite song for them to dance to - just the two of them. We had to get special permission from the hotel to have live music in the room after 10pm - how romantic!"
Hannah Tookey, Wilson Storey Halliday
Last Valentine's Day a guest at Edinburgh's Scotsman hotel created an amazingly over-the-top demonstration of love - and shelled out £17,000 for the pleasure. The loaded lovebird ordered two nights' accommodation in the penthouse suite, Champagne, canap‚s and chocolates on arrival, 120 red roses, and dinner cooked by a personal chef and served in the penthouse dining room. Once all these treats were consumed, he and his sweetheart enjoyed a private limousine tour of Edinburgh by night, taking in the Royal Mile, the floodlit castle and other famous landmarks of Edinburgh; and a helicopter ride over Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside.
To complete his pampering package, he booked a personal beauty therapist for the weekend, with unlimited treatments, and a bath filled with pink Champagne and rose petals. Inspired by his sense of romance, this year the Scotsman is offering an "Extravagant Valentine" package. Thus far, no booking has been taken.
The Richmond Gate hotel in Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, is a popular wedding venue, not least on the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day, when the hotel has been known to host two weddings at once. However, one in particular sticks in the memory of the hotel's meetings and events co-ordinator. The ceremony went without a hitch, and the newlyweds were enjoying their wedding breakfast in the conservatory surrounded by family and friends. But the bliss was short-lived. Unknown to the hotel staff, one of the groom's friends had organised a special surprise to make the day truly unforgettable. In through the door walked a woman in a fur-trimmed coat and carrying a huge bouquet of flowers. The flowers she presented to the bemused bride. Then, turning to the groom, she dropped her coat to reveal she was wearing a scanty pair of red knickers and nothing else. Needless to say, the groom was rather shocked and his bride more than a little upset.
Upmarket City caterer Vacherin has developed a way to encourage "more loving" on Valentine's Day at an investment bank in the City. Well-heeled love-struck workers, who are obviously too busy working to find true love, can order a heart-shaped biscuit from the caterer, which will pipe the sender's message of undying love on top of the bickie. Mark Philpott, owner-director of the catering company, says the biscuit is like a big lebkuchen, or German love cake. He adds that the caterer promises to be the soul of discretion, and all messages will be delivered anonymously. The witty bankers have come up with several messages so far, according to Philpott. His favourites are: "You bake my cake" and "Crumbs, you're gorgeous."
"The most unusual wedding that we ever did was a tiny one for just eight people. The bride wanted everything black. She had a black wedding dress with black hat and veil and she wanted black roses. There's only one rose that's classified as black (actually it's a very deep red), called Black Orchid - and I had to track it down and do all the flower arrangements with it. They had a black chocolate cake, too. Thankfully, we didn't have to get in black satin sheets - but they had the Hogarth Room, which is all dark colours and has a four-poster bed."
Joan Reen, joint-proprietor, Ynyshir Hall, Eglwysfach, Powys
"Last year we had a very wealthy gentleman request one of our suites two whole days before Valentine's Day. He then requested that the bed, the headboard and all the bedside tables be removed - all at his expense - so that he could refit the room with a waterbed. A company came to fit the bed - it wasn't small - then Champagne, a special meal and all the other treats were ordered on the night. Finally, the company took it away the next day and the guest paid for the room to be put back together again."
Henrik Muehle, general manager, Capital hotel, London
Last year one rather determined woman decided to propose to her Financial Times-loving boyfriend by taking out an advert on the inside page of the newspaper on Valentine's Day. If he wanted to say yes, he was to meet her at Indian restaurant Vama on the King's Road, London, that night. No address for the restaurant or time was specified. Tension across the City mounted during the day as the financial sector worried over the outcome of such a public proposal. That night the staff at Vama braced themselves, and the editorial team of the FT gathered to report on the outcome. This Valentine's story had a happy ending, however, as the man in question rang the restaurant to find out what time his wife-to-be had made a booking, turned up on time, said yes, and spent a happy evening supping on Vama's rather tasty Valentine's day menu.
Myhotel Chelsea has everything the loved-up romantic could wish for this Valentine's Day, including a discreet exit for those keen to make the most of the moment. While the Pringle-attired bartenders will stir, shake and blend your favourite cocktails to perfection, they are also able to supply the keys to the hotel's Scarlet or Ruby rooms for those not wishing to draw attention to their ardour. But be warned: the hot reds, clashing pinks, polar bear throws and erotic photography on the walls are most definitely - in the hotel's words - for the "hedonistic pleasure seeker".
"A long time ago when I was a young chef at the Waterside Inn, M Roux said - as a treat - he'd pay for me and a friend to go out to dinner. Well, I was working with a commis called Tiger and, as I was single at the time, I asked if we could both go to Le Gavroche for a meal. So I gave M Roux the date we were both free and he arranged it all. When we arrived at Le Gavroche we were shown to our table through about 25 other tables with couples at them all gazing into each other's eyes. I thought, "This is a bit strange", then suddenly realised it was Valentine's Day. I'd totally forgotten, because I wasn't dating someone at the time. The restaurant cleared quite early - all the couples ate really quickly so that they could get back home for a shag! I didn't propose to Tiger, by the way."
Marcus Ashenford, chef-proprietor, 5 North Street, Winchcombe, Somerset
Despite Johnny Depp recently coming clean that he didn't actually bath in Champagne at London's hip hotel the Portobello, the hotel continues to be famed for this urban myth. So much so that four of the bedrooms which feature the huge Victorian bathing machines have been booked for Valentine's night this year, with specific requests that the Champagne bath moment be offered. While three of the guests are happy to go with a "Julie's bath" of house Champagne from the hotel's sister restaurant (costing £40 a bottle), one flush customer has demanded the top-of-the-range "Bolly bath" - with bottles of Bollinger costing £75 each. The cost of the bath alone is £1,500.
Competition winner
Last month we asked you to write in with your slushiest, most syrupy Valentine's Day stories. After much ooh-ing and aah-ing, Caterer's Cupids chose the following heart-melter from Lisa van Beveren, who wins dinner and an overnight stay for two at the Vineyard at Stockcross, courtesy of those old romantics at Villeroy & Boch…
"Once, when I was working at a London hotel as a receptionist/concierge, a male guest booked the executive suite. He explained that he required some help in organising something he had planned for the following night. His request included Champagne on ice and a meal to be served in the suite. When his partner arrived, I checked her in and directed her via our grand central staircase to the room her boyfriend occupied. As she climbed the stairs, 12 ‘cherubs' wearing togas and feathered wings greeted her, and each handed her a single long-stemmed white rose."
Last year a guest whose pet name for his loved one was "Bunny" booked into the garden suite at London's Franklin hotel for Valentine's night on the understanding that they would see the hotel's famous rabbits gambolling in the gardens outside their window. But the night before, a fox came into the gardens and killed the lot. The hotel's staff cleaned up the bloody scene and bought three white rabbits from a pet shop, which they put in the gardens early that morning for the lovebirds to enjoy while breakfasting in bed. Their job done, the replacement rabbits were escorted back to the shop. Happily, the resident bunnies have returned, and so far they have survived Mr Fox.
