Ideas for a London hen night
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By Simone Baird and Emma Howarth
Updated: Fri Aug 22 2008 -
Hen nights can get expensive, but there's plenty of things to do in London that needn't break the bank. Of course, if you want a spectacular send-off…
Party planner: Essentials | Birthday | Kids' | Work | Wedding | Hen | Stag
On a budget
Cocktails
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. Feature continuesAdvertisementDinner
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.Entertainment
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.
Club
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.Money no object
Afternoon
Burlesque legend Jo King’s London School of Striptease (07958 314107/www.londonschoolofstriptease.co.uk) offers exotic dance sessions from £25 per hen. Or try Time for Tease’s ‘Afternoon Tea Burlesque Beauty’ session (www.timefortease.co.uk). A Champagne tea with make-up and manicure starts at £80 per hen.
Early evening
Get ready with a bespoke party at Lost in Beauty boutique (020 7586 4411/www.lostinbeauty.com), kitted out with vintage shop fittings and beauty brands including Dr Hauschka and Jurlique. From £80 per hen.
Later
Have an intimate soirée at The Berkeley (0808 238 0245/www.the-berkeley.co.uk), where the ‘Girls’ Night In’ package starts at £415 but includes a luxurious room, access to the rooftop pool and gym, complimentary in-room mini manicures, cocktails sent up from the Blue Bar, Skinny Cow ice cream, a choice of chick flicks to watch and a hamper of goodies.
Pub crawl? Check out our Bars & Pubs section.Need to line your stomach? Find a restaurant.
Want to have it large? Find a club.Going the whole hog? Check our travel site for inspirational city breaks.
Party planner: Essentials | Birthday | Kids' | Work | Wedding | Hen | Stag
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24 comments
The Parlour Bar in Canary Wharf has a great vibe for hen nights. The restaurant is very casual and the atmosphere from the bar flows on through. They offer a good value 2 or 3 course meal or alternatively have a great selection of sharing plates then head to the bar for a cocktail post dinner.
I always go to a west-end club because birthday deals are always available and soo useful. Me and my friends have had super glam birthdays at Merah, Movida, NY:LON, Funkybuddha and The Pigalle Club recently...complimentary tables and entry are always available. If you need help I know people who helped me organise fantastic nights out!
The Star Factory is the best place to enjoy the parties..
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If you want a club, I can recommend The Roxy in Rathbone Place on a Saturday, it's a really good night and the let our hen in free.
If you're looking for a hen party a little different from the norm, Homemade London - www.homemadelondon.com offers a range of creative and crafty hen parties in everything from perfume-making, to millinery, lingerie-making and jewellery-making. We offer a range of options to suit all budgets and we're just minutes from Marble Arch in a beautiful 2 floor venue with bespoke wallpapers and a mix of designer and vintage furniture.
If you are an intelligent hen that would prefer fun, thought provoking discussion as opposed to feather bowers and strippers - go to 'arranging marriages' on facebook! We will facilitate fun role plays and discussions around: how to keep your husband happy, in law etiquette, managing stress during the lead up to your wedding and a whole lot more! We look forward to you getting in touch!
How about a classy 'Sex & The City' style Cocktail Making Hen Party? Get dressed up a la Carrie and the girls and have fun shaking and making cocktails with your own Mixologist for the evening. Very glam and stylish.
Or a Dirty Dancing Hen Party? Learn all your favourite moves from the film before going to see the West End show!
www.liquidcircle.co.uk
We run Graffiti Lessons in Waterloo for an alternative and fun Hen party idea.
You can choose what you would like to paint (brides name with 'L' plates etc) and we will email you photos of your day so you have a lasting memory.
www.graffitilessons.co.uk
You could try a dance class?
we run hen parties in the following dance styles:
Pole dancing
Burlesque
Bollywood
Spa & pamper packages
Relaxation dance retreats
Jazz & Ballet
Street Dance
Dirty Dancin
Cheerleading
Dance & Cocktail parties
Team bonding & experience days
Boot camps & Personal Training
starting from £14 per person. please have a look at your website:
www.laphq.co.uk
I had my hen in London and my bridesmaids had organised a hen private dance class at this company - Hannah Emily Beal. we had such a giggle!!! Danced the routine that night in a club, v funny. Loved every minute and recommend it!
www.hannahemilybeal.co.uk
I had a fabulous afternoon at Betty Blythe tea rooms in west London, we did cupcake decorating and then after some bubbles had afternoon tea served by the sweet 20's style waitresses who gave us mini sandwiches , scones with cream and jam and lots of yummy treats, the best bit was having a chance to try on the vintage accessories and having some great photos of my friends before we headed out for the night!
I had my 26th Birthday Party at Anam Bar last Friday and I can tell it has been one of the greatest times I ever had. The staff was very nice to me and my 32 guests. As it was my first time in Anam, I was recommended by one of the Bar Tenders to try an exotic, original and delicious cocktail called Vanilla Sapphire which was awesome! apart of large menu cocktail my guests enjoyed the taste of their spirits, imported wines and beer ( I must say prices are very reasonable).
The atmosphere was great and the music just perfect, the DJ attended all our requests.
I definitely recommend Anam Bar as the chosen place to have the best party time ever!
Thanks so much to all the team that made me have an unforgettable Birthday!
If you want to save money on a Hen Weekend in London, it's always best to book a package.
Google Redseven Leisure - and have a look at what they have got to offer in London for Hens - there are some really fun options, like recording your own pop song, or a medieval banquet. take a look, you'll have a really 'cheep' hen night!
We had a great hat making party for our hen party run by milliner Katherine Elizabeth hats,.She provided loads of scrumy feathers beads and jewels as well as helped us create amazing fascinators to wear out that evening. It was so much fun ooo and we also drank tea from china tea cups, eat scrumy cakes cakes and drank Champagne. Thanks guys.
Things to do for hen nights ?
House party? butlers in the buff are quite fun and ad a cheaky twist?
Loads of clubs and shows, can get a bit manic though IMO, and lots of people get lost or drop out along the way unless you have something pre planned.
West end shows you can sing along to are classic, Grease, Rocky Horror, anything Abba like Muma Mia.
Or if you've not been one of the Adonis hen parties, there cheesey and loud and for the young at heart, but its something you have to try once.
Thats my top choices
Sophie