DINING OCCASIONS & SPECIAL MOMENTS
DATE NIGHT IDEAS IN YOUR 40s: HOW TO KEEP THE SPARK IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP
A NON-BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO DATE NIGHT FOR MILLENNIALS & GEN X
Hitting your 40s is an absolute milestone. You’ve never been as sure of who you are, what you like and what you don’t. You've still got it. But you’ve also got responsibilities. You’ve got routines. Rituals. And time together can get lost along the way.
Thousands of Brits find date nights are harder in their 40s. But purposeful date nights are especially important when you've been together for a while. So, maybe date night takes a little more effort and intention. But it’s better for it.
UK Parents Dating By Numbers: The Stats
77% of Brits say...
77% of Brits say you need 3 date nights a month to keep the spark alive. In a survey of nearly 10,000 UK couples for Charlie Bigham's, only 30% manage 1 date night each month.
20% chance of splitting up
Going on date nights when you have young children reduces the chances of splitting up by 20% and increases the probability of being very satisfied with life later on. Waiting until you have the freedom to go out might be too little, too late.
[Source: The Millennium Cohort Study, quoted in Institute of Family Studies]
96% say one evening out...
96% of parents with young children felt a single evening out per month would improve their overall happiness.
9-in-10 feel less romantic
9 in 10 parents feel less romantic with their partner since having children, according to a survey by childcare app Bubble.
Reality check
Many British parents struggle to find any time together without children (especially when they're doing it without "a village"). Juggling childcare and financial pressures with kids' busy social lives means some couples haven't had a date night in years.
HOW DATING CHANGES FROM YOUR 20s TO YOUR 40s
Remember when you just went out in your 20s and had a good time? When you could dance the night away or have a long dinner, without stressing about getting back for sleep or skincare routines? You definitely didn’t appreciate that freedom at the time.
Good date nights in your 30s and 40s are not about perfection. They’re about atmosphere, connection and relaxation. Making a bit of an effort, but with nothing to prove.
Short of ideas? 👇
5 DATE NIGHT IDEAS TO KEEP YOUR RELATIONSHIP FRESH
The right Date Night can add a bit of sparkle to your relationship, with better conversation, more intimacy, and the chance to create lasting memories.
The usual dinner-and-a-movie is nice, but it can get stale. Novelty gives you a boost of dopamine, so you might see your partner in a new light.
Want to shake it up with something new for Date Night? Here’s a bit of inspo for easy, low‑pressure date night ideas.
1. SHARE EVERYTHING
You’re already in it together. Take turns to choose something each of you loves, and give it a go together. Could be Padel, retail therapy, or pool. Then do the same for dinner. Try sharing plates, a pizza for two, and a bottle of wine.
Why it works:Â exploring something new encourages conversation about future plans, flavours and memories.
WHY ZIZZI WORKS FOR DATE NIGHT
You’ve already settled down, not settled. Date nights in your 30s and 40s should be about escaping your daily routine and reconnecting. Sharing experiences to keep the spark in your relationship.
The vibe at Zizzi is all about a relaxed, easygoing connection. And food, obviously. We’ve got sharing plates and two dine-for-£x deals for those “Share everything” dates. A menu full of crowd pleasers and a team that gets it for the “No distractions” dates. Lunch set menus and mocktails for the “Day Dates”. Fizz and cocktails for the big and little wins together. And lots of our restaurants are near the top retail and leisure destinations, with cinemas, bowling alleys, and shops on our doorstep. Find your nearest Zizzi here. And book a table for your next date night.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND TRYING SOMETHING NEW TOGETHER
We’ve hosted thousands of couples since 1999, but we also have the pro-date night science (if you're not convinced yet). The 2022 State of Our Unions Survey found that couples who did something new together once a month felt 15% closer than couples who stuck to routine date nights. The research showed that people felt more satisfied in their relationship because they were releasing dopamine and oxytocin, AKA the feel-good/ love hormones.
For over-40s, it has an even bigger effect, because you might have established tiny rituals and patterns crying out for a shake-up.
MAKE DATE NIGHT A HABIT (NOT A CHORE)
You don’t always need champagne and an expensive meal to impress - the key is variety and intentional planning.
You grew up in the decades that gave the world big shoulder pads and big ambition. When kids had a crazy amount of freedom and spontaneity. You could jump on your bike and be out all day until dinner time. No social media, no phones, no one telling you what to like or who to stick on your wall.
Yeah, time together going into your 40s takes a little more effort. But if you want to make date night work, make it a recurring habit with room for spontaneity (and pizza).
You need to find '80s/'90s you again.