Around Town

The problem
Nicola, 21 ‘My friend is getting married and I’m arranging her hen do. It has to be a Saturday night in the West End. She’s not an L-plates ’n’ veil sort of girl, but wants her last night to be on the razz in London. There are five of us, and we’re on a budget.’

The prescription
For glitzy cocktail bars in the West End, try Annex 3 (6 Little Portland Street). There’s no mistaking it’s from the same stable as Shoreditch’s Loungelover – an explosion of camp with a dozen 1960s chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It’s a good idea to phone first to reserve a table in the bar which opens at 6pm. For cocktails, we love The Player (8 Broadwick Street). Although it’s a members' bar, non-members are allowed in before 11pm. It’s a groovy-baby 1970s subterranean cocktail lounge with outstanding bar staff. While not glitzy, Floridita (100 Wardour Street) is a Cuban-themed bar where the Daiquiris will take some beating.
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Hungry but on a budget? Make for Hi Sushi (40 Frith Street). It’s a cheap eats kind of place with large sunken tables in the basement. If you’re starving, the all-you-can-eat buffet is around £15 per head, but picking a few things off the menu won’t set you back more than £10 each.

For entertainment, head to Kitsch Cabaret at Madame Jo Jo’s (8-10 Brewer Street). At £20 a head for standing tickets, this will chomp up your budget, but drinks here are cheaper than at, say, the pretty Volupté in Holborn (which also has burlesque on most nights). It’s cabaret and burlesque with a whiffy dose of cheese, but it’s a huge amount of fun. And if you are tempted to throw in bit of traditional hen-do ribaldry, you can book a stripper (£60-£100) for your table. Doors open at 7pm, the show starts at 8pm.

From here, you can follow the rest of the Kitsch Cabaret people to a club around the corner for free VIP entry. There are numerous rooms covering chart pop, funk, R&B and house. If this is a little too mainstream for you, finding somewhere to dance in the West End at the weekend without paying more than a few quid to get in can be a little difficult. Perhaps try the Roxy (3 Rathbone Place) for ‘Smash Hits’-style ’80s and ’90s chart fodder.

Do you agree? Post your suggestions for Nicola's night out.