Day priced as usual

Cynics might think of Valentine’s Day as commercial opportunism at its finest, but local restaurants and flower shops say where their prices are concerned, it is "business as usual".

There is no doubt however, that lovestruck patrons are good for business. Dunedin restaurateur Andre Shi said his inner city restaurants — Vault 21, Prohibition Smokehouse and Deja Vu — were all fully booked for the dinner service.

He said while people could spend a "bit more" on the night, that also reflected purchases of bubbly rather than any specific surcharges or higher pricing.

Joseph Jones florist Carley Jones said red roses attracted a premium on the day, but that simply reflected demand and supply.