Wetherspoon's Gin Festival in Newcastle will run for a whopping 17 days from Valentine's Day

They say that the way to the heart is through the stomach and certainly a cosy meal for two is often top choice with couples out celebrating Valentine's Day.

But if that can be taken to apply to drink as well as food then Wetherspoon's pubs could prove an ideal date location on February 14.

The pub chain is launching a Gin Festival on Valentine's Day with a huge range of options including overseas brands, unique flavours and liqueurs. What's more, it will run for 17 days until March 1 so that pretty much everyone will have time to sample what's on offer.

The festival will take place at 11 J D Wetherspoon pubs around Newcastle and the North East as well as more across the country. On sale will be a range of gins costing from £2.75 to £3.99 for a single measure and including a free mixer.

Customers will be able to pick up 'tasting notes' about the gins which, in addition to each pub's usual selection, will  include up to 14 types from across the UK and Italy.

Among the British varieties will be Aber Falls Gingerbread Gin Liqueur; Didsbury Gin Strawberry and Sicillian Lemon; Slingsby Marmalade Gin; Whitley Neill Blackberry Gin and Hawthorn's London Dry Gin. There also will be a Mor Irish Gin from the Republic of Ireland and, from Italy, a Malfy Gin Rosa.