Couples in Middlesbrough have a host of gorgeous food and drink establishments to enjoy together – but we’ll get there in a second.

Before heading out to socialise, why don’t you catch a show at Middlesbrough Theatre?

You can catch a huge range of intimate and diverse productions – including drama, musicals, drag artists, cabaret and family shows at the 484-seat theatre in Linthorpe.

Middlesbrough Town Hall is a much larger venue right in the town centre.

Over the next few months it will feature big name comedians like Jason Manford and Jack Dee and musical legends like Robert Plant.

It also showcases the best up and coming talent in its monthly Big Mouth Comedy Clubs; musical retrospectives on genres like soul and Motown; community activities such as choirs and the Andy Man’s Club; magicians; talks and club nights.

Couples can also enjoy a film at the high-tech Cineworld multiplex cinema, including a unique 4DX auditorium which features motion seats, engineered to work in perfect synchronicity with the action on screen and surrounded by special effects such as wind, fog, and scents.

Middlesbrough’s shopping district offers an eclectic mix of high street names, family-favourite brands, and independent stores.

Whether you’re looking to treat yourself with something special at one of the town’s designer fashion stores, or you’re wanting to pick up the latest off-the-rail trends, there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets.

The Antique Fireplace in Linthorpe

You’ll never be short of a delicious place to eat, or a trendy bar to enjoy a drink, and couples in Middlesbrough also have a glut of country offerings to choose from – from high end to cosy – on the outskirts of the town, and in its surrounding villages and countryside.

In Berwick Hills, there’s the hidden gem the Prickly Pear Bistro, which serves dozens of parmo flavours from around the world in an intimate Spanish courtyard-style setting.

Vine in Linthorpe specialises in seafood and is next door to the popular Artizan cocktail bar, which has a roof terrace perfect for those warm spring and summer evenings.

In the town centre, you’re spoilt for choice.

Couples could try Panuozzos on Bedford Street – a modern Italian restaurant specialising in the eponymous panuozzo, a modern-day Italian staple which originated in a town near Naples. (link to page)

And what about Umi, the authentic Japanese restaurant serving delicious sashimi, nigiri and sushi?

We could list restaurants and bars all night, but couples looking for an intimate drink with a significant other should try the Nuthatch on Bedford Street – make sure to book ahead to sample a unique cocktail – or try the vast selection of rare gins available at The Dovecot.

If you’re watching the waistline, why not take a stroll round the other side of town and appreciate the history of early Middlesbrough on our Heritage Trail.

Middlesbrough – Transporter Bridge

Walkers can clock up steps on the 2.5 mile trail through Middlesbrough’s parks and historic quarter.

Using the Huntee app, the trail takes in the town centre and ‘over the border’, and features a number of notable sites with proud histories. It visits the former homes of ironmasters, the national acclaimed Arts and Crafts Webb House building, and a number of regenerated historic buildings.