The Best Romantic Date Night Spots in Northamptonshire

Nicole Read

6 years ago

If you’re feeling super soppy, romantic and you’re looking for that ideal restaurant to spend a romantic night for your next date night; I’ve got a list of tried and tasted places in Northamptonshire!

And Northamptonshire is certainly not short of romantic places to dine.

Two things that go together so well are date night and food. Most of mine and Josh’s date nights will always consist of going out to eat. As big foodies, it’s what we both enjoy and it’s something we can both enjoy whilst spend time together.

Even more so, I’m really into dining at independent restaurants in the county over any chain restaurants we have. I think it’s really important to support local, as you get to discover your counties most hidden gems!

And because I want to showcase all that’s good about Northamptonshire, whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion, or just fancy having a date night during the week, I’ve got a list of Northamptonshire romantic date night spots for you as my next Northants Food Guide.

All these places I have previously dined and visited, so you’re getting a full, honest opinion from me and why I believe they’re great places to spend Valentine’s or any date night:

The Watling Street Village
Old House Northampton
The Wheatsheaf, Titchmarsh
Hibiscus Fine Dining
Hops & Chops
Murray’s at Whittlebury Park
The Butchers Arms, Greens Norton
The Red Lion, East Haddon
Saints Coffee
DnA Steak & Grill

The Watling Street Village

One of our latest date night experiences, but we certainly would go back again.

The reason this is on my best date night’s is that it has everything you could want from an evening.

If you remember 185 Watling Street, The Watling Street Village has replaced and turned what you knew about the old place upside down, for the better.

Firstly, they have done well by providing intimate seating booths as opposed to open plan, so it feels like you can relax and be with your loved one whilst enjoying your night.

Secondly, it’s a fairly cheap night out if you’re after cocktails, pizza, burgers, chicken, tapas and whatever else. You are spoilt for choice!

Plus, it’s one of our locals so I have a feeling we’ll be here a lot!

You can find The Watling Street Village at 185 Watling Street, Towcester, NN12 6BX

The Old House Northampton

Josh and I really enjoyed our date night at The Old House Northampton and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Based on Wellingborough Road, the most lively street in Northampton, it doesn’t come across as somewhere that could have such a quiet, romantic spot. But Old House Northampton is one place I’d go to again and again for date night.

With the restaurant being located on the top floor, it was a perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle and the atmosphere inside was ideal for date night: low mood lighting, candles lit, a warm fireplace in the corner burning and of course, a bottle of house red wine to share placed on our table.

In short, everything that The Old House’s ambience offered, made for a perfect date night.

You can find The Old House Northampton on 214 – 216 Wellingborough Road, Northampton, NN1 4EE

Read my review of The Old House Northampton

The Wheatsheaf, Titchmarsh

Our recent date night discovery that we would definitely drive 40 minutes to again – The Wheatsheaf, Titchmarsh.

This very welcoming inn will make any couple feel relaxed and in the mood for romance, with the help of it’s airy, rustic-chic interior, twinkling lights decorated along its wooden beams and candles lit all across the room.

When we dined for the first time, our table was situated in a cosy corner right by the window, with a lovely flower pot displayed on the window seal. With their selection of wine and gin, real ale’s and traditional British food, Josh and I were made to feel like we had been whisked away from reality.

The Wheatsheaf really is the superb date night location – a wonderful village pub.

You can find The Wheatsheaf, Titchmarsh on 1 North Street, Titchmarsh, Kettering, NN14 3DH.

Hibiscus Fine Dining

If you’re looking for a really swanky, sophisticated date night to celebrate a special occasion such as Valentine’s Day (hint hint) then Hibiscus Fine Dining is the place you need to book.

Since this year, Hibiscus Fine Dining has moved from The Royal & Derngate to the premises at The Orangery at Delapre Abbey – I am yet to experience their new location, however, I’m sure you’re in for a treat!

Hibiscus offers a small, bright but softly coloured private dining room to offer a totally different dining experience in Northampton town centre. Plus, because it’s a private dining room, you know you’re not going to be interrupted by loud noise.

Their sample menu always has something new, as they are constantly changing to fit with whatever fresh produce they bring in, which Head Chef, Sam Squires, uses to create a stunning, stand-out menu every time.

You can find Hibiscus Fine Dining at Delapre Abbey inside the Orangery.

Hops & Chops

Hops & Chops is a modern steakhouse situated in St Crispins on Kent Road and offers a soothing, relaxing atmosphere as soon as you walk in. If you’re looking for a special date night, be prepared to spend because Hops & Chops comes with a price.

However, it really offers a lovely romantic vibe that makes you feel really warm and the staff are able to leave you to enjoy a relaxing, romantic evening, whilst still being really attentive and helpful.

The food is cooked over charcoal and wood to give it’s firey, smokey taste to dishes such as their steaks, where you can actually pick what cut of meat you want, burgers, traditional dishes and much more.

It has the unique charm of a traditional chophouse with a fresh, modern makeover, right here in Northampton.

Although I was slightly disappointed in my main course on my last, I know from previous experiences that the food is sensational and is definitely a meat-lovers treat.

You can find Hops & Chops on 6 Kent Road, St Crispins, Northampton, NN5 4DR

Murray’s

Oh my, oh my, you are in for a treat for date night if you go to Murray’s restaurant located at Whittlebury Park.

From the moment you walk in and sit down in the lounge with cocktails and canapes, to when you sit down, you are constantly looked after until the moment you walk out.

The staff ensure you’re 100% looked after, without being too interruptive, so if you are looking to enjoy an elegant date night, Murray’s offers an intimate environment that will want you coming back for more.

Not only does the environment and staff leave you feeling more than content; the food will literally sweep you off your feet in presentation, texture and taste that you could literally fall in love!

You can find Murray’s restaurant located inside Whittlebury Park at Whittlebury, Towcester, NN12 8QH

The Butchers Arms, Greens Norton

We love visiting the Butchers Arms, Greens Norton!

It’s a cosy, villagy pub on the outskirts of Towcester in Greens Norton and if you’re looking for a really secluded, but atmopsheric pub vibe, this is the place to visit.

We’ve had multiple visits here and from our own experience, we have never been disappointed in the food offering – especially the soups. The soups here are something special!

You’re looking at mid-range prices here for a 3 course meal and a bottle of wine to share, but it’s totally worth it.

You can find The Butchers Arms at 10 High St, Greens Norton, Towcester NN12 8BA

The Fox & Hounds, Harlestone

Now… don’t brag to Josh, but ‘back in the day’ when I was scrolling on the ol’ Tinder and dating apps, this used to be one of my local places I used to come to meet my dates… ha!

But you can’t blame me! It’s a nice location, just on the outskirts of Harpole and Nobottle, it’s cosy, with lots of lovely mood lighting to mark the occasion and there’s lots of seating areas to choose from.

So whether you’re after one or two drinks or you’re going for a full blown dinner date, it’s definitely up there as one of my top date night locations.

Food and drink is on the higher end of the budget, so I wouldn’t recommend going for the full works on the first date, but perhaps when you’ve been dating for a while and fancy treating yourself to some extraordinary yummy food and drink, then treat yourself!

You can find The Fox & Hounds, Harlestone at Harlestone Rd, Lower Harlestone, Northampton NN7 4EW

The Red Lion, East Haddon

This gives cosy, pub village vibes if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the town and settle down over delicious food and drink in this newly refurbished and re-launched pub!

The Red Lion, East Haddon has everything ticked for a lovely date night: low moody lighting, candles on tables, corner tables away from bigger parties for more quality time spent together, a varied wine and gin menu and of course, all the food you could eat.

Whether you fancy a bottle of wine and some nibbles, or you’re celebrating an occasion, The Red Lion, East Haddon has my approval for a great date night spot in Northamptonshire.

Saints Coffee

Saints Coffee are open during Thursday to Saturday evenings and this is for sure a date night location to check out!

Although my first evening to Saints’ evening opening hours was with some girlfriends, I kept saying how much Josh and I would enjoy this because cheese and wine are obviously key ingredients for a date night, right!?

They offer cheeseboard and charcuterie board selections which are perfect for sharing and go really well with a bottle of red wine (I highly recommend the Cape Heights Merlot!)

Plus, if you don’t fancy driving and want a few drinks, St Giles Street is accessible enough for you to grab a taxi home!

Find Saints Coffee on 62 St Giles Street, Northampton, NN1 1JW