An average Brit spends £52 on Valentine's Day 2025
Love is in the air, and so is spending! With the average Brit spending £52 on Valentine’s Day gifts and experiences in 2025, it’s clear that romance is good for business. But are you ready to capture your share of this love-fueled spending spree?
How many people in the UK celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Finder.com’s 2025 analysis estimates that 32.7 million Brits (61% of the population) plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day, with 53% (around 28.5 million people) intending to spend money on their celebrations. That’s more than half of UK’s population!
Valentine’s Day Spending breakdown by Gender and Age groups
As per a report by EuroNews, Gen Z is leading the charge this Valentine’s Day, with young shoppers aged 16-24 showing the strongest intent to celebrate and splurge on gifts like chocolates, sweets, and hampers, according to a Global Data report. This presents a significant opportunity for businesses to cater to this demographic and capitalise on their enthusiasm for the romantic holiday. A finder.com study reveals that the average Valentine’s Day spend in the UK is £52 per person. The analysis also highlights a significant gender gap, with men planning to spend an average of £63, while women anticipate spending around £40.
Most popular gifting items in the UK
Brits are keeping it traditional this Valentine’s Day, with greeting cards (57%), food/drink (30%), and flowers (29%) topping the gift list across all age groups. A striking gender difference emerges with flowers: half of all men plan to gift them, compared to less than 10% of women. Overall, spending habits are consistent, with 61% planning to spend roughly the same as last year, 16% planning to spend less, and 13% planning to spend more, according to YouGov data.
Rise in Business costs on the special day
An average restaurant or cafe owner increases the costs by up to 15% to bear utilities and merchant services expenses and of course inflation. As mentioned in a survey taken by BBC, business owners face rising inflation hitting businesses hard as Valentine’s Day approaches. In Northern Ireland, business owners are being forced to pass on increased costs to consumers. For example, a local pastry chef has raised prices on her goods by 10-15% due to significant increases in ingredient costs like cocoa powder and butter, compounded by rising energy bills. She’s attempting to offset these challenges by scaling up production and making some ingredients herself.
Similarly, a florist with 23 years of experience reports considerable cost increases. High gas prices in Europe, impacting greenhouse heating, are forcing flower growers to raise their prices. This translates to higher costs for florists, especially during peak seasons like Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and Mother’s Day, when flower prices are already at their highest.
How can businesses overcome these expenses ?
Valentine’s Day presents both a significant opportunity and a potential financial challenge for UK businesses. While the season of romance drives increased consumer spending – with Brits projected to spend nearly £1.5 billion, and an average spend of £52 per person – rising costs related to inflation and supply chain complexities can impact profitability. Navigating this landscape requires strategic planning and a focus on operational efficiency.
Beewise is committed to empowering UK businesses to thrive, even during peak seasons. Our integrated payment solutions provide the tools and insights necessary to optimise performance and maximise returns this Valentine’s Day. Specifically, Beewise enables businesses to:
- Reduce operational expenses: Our platform facilitates cost savings of up to 40% on transaction fees, directly impacting your bottom line. These savings can be strategically reinvested to offset rising ingredient, supply, or energy costs, which are impacting businesses like local bakeries and florists who are facing increases of 10-15% or more.
- Enhance operational efficiency: Streamlined processes and automated workflows free up valuable time and resources. This frees up your team to focus on creating exceptional Valentine’s Day experiences and building stronger customer relationships. This is crucial given that 61% of Brits plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and younger demographics like Gen Z are particularly enthusiastic, with 72% planning to celebrate and often spending more than other age groups.
- Gain data-driven insights: Beewise provides comprehensive data analytics, enabling you to understand customer spending patterns, optimise inventory management, and make informed decisions about pricing and promotions. This is particularly important given the diverse spending habits across demographics, with men outspending women on average (£63 vs £40).
