One bride-to-be, 11 of her nearest and dearest female pals, a weekend of uninterrupted fun and frolics and a top UK sun, sea and sand destination. Yes, forget jetting off to Ibiza, Amsterdam or (if you’re wedding budget could give Mariah a run for her money, Vegas) because Brighton, as we discovered is the place to celebrate the end of your single-girl status…
First up, it’s super easy to get to from London with direct trains taking just under an hour…giving you just enough time to get to know your fellow hens and deck out the bride-to-be in her obligatory hen party attire (veil and flowers if she’s lucky – cow costume if she’s not).
Brighton’s accommodation is varied and plentiful with options ranging from cottages or bed and breakfasts for cosy couples to hotels or town houses for larger groups. We rented a large 5-floor terrace house just moments from the seafront – the ideal option for socialising, sharing clothes/gossip/toilet roll and of course cooking (well frying eggs and bacon…)
All good so far I hear you say – but what about the nightlife? Well I think it’s fair to say any location that doesn’t drum up a flurry of good bars and a selection of suitably chic yet fun venues in which you can strut your stuff wouldn’t cut it for a hen party (or any girly gathering come to think of it). But Brighton’s array of pubs, bars, amusements and clubs make it an ideal spot to let your hair down. You can opt to dance the night away in the stylish Karma in Brighton Marina (ideal if you like things classy as fancy dress is banned – LBD’s and tiaras only!) or treat your hen to a taste of marshmallow-man at RDF (also popular with stag’s…though probably more to do with the scantily clad girls dancing on the bar than the topless bar tenders…)
Brighton Marina is also home to a top fish and chip restaurant (http://www.gourmetfishandchipcompany.com/) – an obligatory culinary ritual when staying at a British seaside resort. And don’t forget you can recharge your batteries with a sweet treat from the pier – candyfloss or donuts anyone?
With your nights taken care of you’ll want to know there’s enough going on to keep the celebratory vibe alive during the day (assuming you haven’t celebrated too hard the night before…). Hen Heaven (http://www.henheaven.co.uk/) offers a variety of packages to amuse and entertain from canoeing and chocolate making to paintballing, It’s A Knockout and spa experiences, they also do UK and European breaks. Our group had signed up to a Bollywood dance class where we were dressed up in Indian costumes and bangles then taken through our paces ‘changing those light bulbs’ and ‘dealing some cards’. The moves all come from popular Indian films and Amber, our teacher made sure things were fun and even gave the bride-to-be a goodie bag filled with a personalised CD, bangles, bindis and a bottle of wine. Definitely a lot of fun and a good way to earn that celebratory pint afterwards…
So, to sum it up, with a fast connection from London, affordable good quality accommodation, variety of bars and clubs, good dining options and sociable atmosphere Brighton makes a top choice for a hen party to remember. Ok, so the weather can’t quite compete with that of Ibiza…but that’s what honeymoon’s are for…
Leave a comment