Welcome to our monthly need-to-know list of the latest and greatest releases that should be on your radar for the month ahead.
With a full-time job, busy social life, and social media accounts to update, it can be challenging to keep up with all the shiny newness out there.
Here at ES Best, we’ve got our ears to the ground and our noses pressed against the digital shopping windows, always looking for the newest fashion, events, and food and drink - so you don’t have to. From sell-out collections to limited edition collaborations, with exclusive events, fresh launches and new store unveilings in between, we’ve got you covered so you don’t miss out on a thing.
A fresh month has dawned, and this February is more special than most. Not just for the extra day thanks to the leap year - how will you use your bonus 24 hours come February 29? - but because the shortest month of the year is packed with headliner events.
There’s the biggie, Valentine’s Day (February 14), along with Galentine’s the day before (February 13) which also happens to be Shrove Tuesday aka Pancake Day. Whether you’re treating someone special, your best mates, or just yourself to a fancy pancake dinner, we’ve got the gift lists and kitchen essential roundups to help you nail the celebrations.
Fashion Week also kicks off in London on February 16, with the great and good of fashion descending on our city. While the catwalks will showcase what we’ll all be wearing come AW24, there are plenty of street-style looks to inspire your spring wardrobe update now.
And of course, there’s the usual smorgasbord of glittering new launches, exciting collabs and epic shopping drops to make this February shine.
If you’re ever at a loss for something to do at the weekend or want to scratch the retail therapy itch, we’ll keep this page up-to-date all month long; best to bookmark so you’ve got the insider’s guide right at your fingertips.
Ready, set -
The Perfume Shop Valentine's Spritz pop-up
When shopping for a new fragrance, it can be hard to know what to go for. Not because of the huge selection on offer, but because you never really know how they'll develop past the first spritz. This February, The Perfume Shop is helping shoppers get up close and personal with new bottles in a special Valentine's pop-up.
Opening for two days only in Soho's Greek Street, some of the biggest names in fragrance will be available to try, alongside fun activations and chances to win prizes.
Find it on February 8 and 9 at 59 Greek Street, London.
Buy now, The Perfume Shop
RIXO launches Valentine’s Day collection
Nothing to wear for the year's ultimate date night? Rixo's got you with a special V-Day-ready drop that blends girl-next-door floral prints with foxy animal prints. The range comprises co-ords, separates and of course, the label's sought-after dresses, to cover all bases.
Sizes up to UK26, available from February 5.
Buy now, RIXO
Swyft Home holds clearance sale
Sofa looking a bit worse for wear? Home feeling a bit tired? Head to sofa-in-a-box brand Swyft where selected seating and home accessories have been treated to the discount brush. There's up to 50 per cent off on the brand's range of sofas, including the popular Models 02, 04, 05, 08, and 10.
Pictured: Swyft sofa MODEL 02 2 Seater Sofa in Burgundy - was: £1699, now: £849
Swyft has also launched an accessories collection that spans wall prints and ornaments, ready to bring character to your space.
Buy now, Swyft
Has Uber Eats and Greggs nailed the perfect Valentine's gift?
The way to a person's heart is through their stomach. While a gruesome concept in the literal sense, the sentiment, at least, holds true.
It’s the notion that Greggs and Uber Eats have jumped on this Valentine’s Day. The high street baker has devised a selection of its famous bakes designed for two to share. Available exclusively via Uber Eats on February 14 from 11am, bakes include Greggs Sausage Roll, Vegan Sausage Roll, Steak Bake, Vegan Steak Bake, Chicken Bake and Sausage, Bean and Cheese Melt. Love in the modern age, eh?
Buy now £10.00, Uber Eats
easyJet Holidays offer free places for grandparents
Most parents would agree that childcare would be an absolute nightmare without some help from kind grandparents. With summer holidays on the agenda - or thinking about where to book, at least - it’s time to repay the oldies for all their hard graft.
easyJet Holidays has launched a new deal that sees seniors fly for free with their families, making your next multigenerational getaway easier on the wallet. Called 'Grans Go Free', there are dozens of exciting European destinations on the table, from beach breaks to city stays.
Matt Callaghan, COO at easyJet Holidays said: “We’ve launched our ‘Grans Go Free’ offer to tighten these important family relationships and allow travellers to get even better value, in addition to our Big Orange Sale.”
Buy now, easyJet Holidays
Perfect pies: Gozney launches the Arc
Lighter evenings are coming, which means it won't be long until you can enjoy dinner in the garden. Get ready for a summer of feasting with Gozney's latest launch; the Arc. The pizza oven is the brand's most advanced compact version yet, helping you cook restaurant-quality pies in - wait for it - 60 seconds. Available in two sizes, prices start at £599 with deliveries from March 6 - but you can sign up for early access now.
Buy now, Gozney
IKEA launches gardening collection DAKSJUS
With spring just around the corner, IKEA is getting ahead of the curve with its latest range called DAKSJUS, a range of plant pots, stands and gardening accessories. There are options for outside gardens as well as indoor jungles. From the WFH desk to the kitchen, there are options for every corner of the home.
Buy now, IKEA
HelloFresh launches Calorie-Smart Luxe range
If you're anything like us, it's going to take more than a few salads to shift our Christmas weight. Luckily HelloFresh is helping the cause with the launch of a new calorie-controlled range. The lineup of recipes, which cost £3.99pp extra, all come to 650 calories or less, without skimping an iota on taste. Order until February 12.
Buy now, HelloFresh
GAIL’s Baker's Breakfast Hamper
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and even more so on Valentine's - or so says GAIL's.
The baker is encouraging shoppers to ditch the bouquet and bank on brekkie instead with its Baker’s Breakfast Hamper. Designed to get February 14 off to a sweet start, deliveries involve boxes packed with cinnamon buns and other pastries, a whole sourdough loaf, smoked salmon and bottles of freshly squeezed OJ.
Need breakfast to go? Don't miss the iced biscuits shaped like lips. Kisses for breakfast? Yes, please.
Buy now, GAIL’s
Samsung reveals Galaxy S24 series
For Android fans, the beginning of the year holds extra excitement. It's when Samsung unveils the latest generation of its Galaxy series. Named for the year, the Galaxy S24 is now available to buy as a handset or as part of a contract deal.
The suite of three phones - the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and the slickest of the lot, the S24 Ultra - offer different screen sizes, excellent cameras and batteries up to 5000mAh for all-day use.
AI is a standout feature, with cutting-edge tech packing each model with a circus-load of tricks. There's Live Translate for decoding conversations when you're abroad, Transcript Assist to create text from recordings, and the most groundbreaking: a 'circle to search' function which lets you draw rings around any part of photos, messages, or videos to generate related search results.
Handset prices begin at £799 and top out at £1249, but contract deals might be easier to swallow if you're happy to lock in for the long term.
See the best Samsung S24 contract deals here.
Buy now, Samsung
McDonald's launches a red hot menu for Valentine's
The fast food joint has unveiled a host of menu newcomers this February, including the hotly-anticipated collab with Frank's.
We're talking a hot and spicy chicken breast, RedHot-spiked mayo and sliced jalapenos - a triple threat of spice with nothing but some cheese and lettuce garnish to cool the flames.
ES Best tried the £5.59 burger, and opinions were split, with some finding the sandwich far too hot, while others revelled in the delicious heat. Ultimately, it all boils down to how much heat you can handle.
Luckily, cooling isn't too far off with McD's new dessert additions which include a KitKat Ruby Chocolate McFlurry and our favourite, the fruity Raspberry and White Chocolate Pie.
Buy now £5.59, Deliveroo
