London

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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 continues

Dinner
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