The research also found that one in four men (26%) admit failing to book their Valentine’s Day restaurant due to leaving it too late, despite two thirds of women in favour of a romantic meal over a bouquet of flowers. Over a third (38%) of women resort to booking the Valentine’s meal themselves.

Mike Xenakis, managing director at OpenTable, said: “Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular times of the year for dining and it’s easy to be caught off guard when it comes to booking your restaurant of choice. With our earliest reservations starting a year in advance, we’ve tried to take the pain out of booking by compiling a lists of the most romantic restaurants in the UK, to ensure you don’t miss the boat.”

Surprisingly, the study also found that one in ten reservations were for tables of more than two, a sign of the rising popularity in anti-Valentine’s Day group celebrations.

Most diners (90%) were first time visitors to the restaurant they booked, with the most popular cuisines including Italian (14%), Chinese (12%) and Indian (9%).