Hen do -HELP!

[petra_29]

I am charged with the task of organising my little sister's hen do next March. She doesn't live in London but has requested a London-based weekend. Friday night will be a lowish-key meal with some of her London based friends. Saturday is the main day, I am thinking of organising a theatre matinee but am a bit stuck for evening entertainment.

I know she won't like the raucous hen-night affair, but I would like to find a venue/venues that can offer nice food, drinks and atmosphere. Not too expensive as I know some of her friends have very limited funds, but decent. I will consider anywhere in London...

All suggestions welcomed...

Thanks

[billybiro]

No can do hen do help

[theasidonio]

how about Maison Toureg in Greek Street. Set price meals (morrocan) and then has entertainment with belly-dancing. they can also arrange for additional entertainment. Or a Karaoke bar? Or Bloomsbury Bowl? or a Burlesque show in Leicester Square?

[RosieH]

Volupte do a nice burlesque afternoon tea - in the afternoon, the stripping isn't too risque and the cakes are good. Evenings a more exciting affair but not too pricey.

If a lot of people aren't London, could you do an evening London Eye (not sure if it's possible to sneak in a bottle of champagne and some plastic glasses).

Cocktails at the top of Centre Point make a nice starting point for an evening - fabulous views, and if you have one drink and then head somewhere cheaper, then you can not spend a fortune.

There's usually some good (and cheap) comedy / cabaret at the Soho theatre, or you could check out if there are any Singalongas on at the Prince Charles. The Sound of Music is a classic, but I think they've recently (finally) got the rights to Grease. Will depend on schedule, but even the most hardened cynic (and I was such) gives in in the end and gets properly into it.

It's not expensive, and there's Chinatown on the doorstep for a cheap dinner.

[theasidonio]

LOL! I work at the Prince Charles Cinema and Singalonga Grease and Sound of Music are really good for hen-dos! We also do Rocky Horror, Little Shop of Horrors and Bugsy Malone singalongs.

Also, just a thought but if you want something a little more reserved. The hilton at Park Lane do for ?25 a head a chocolate based afternoon tea that is to die for!!!!

[RosieH]

Sorry for the complete aside, but OH MY GOD, you do Bugsy Malone? Awesome - I have quite a few tracks on my gym playlist and reckon I'd be word-perfect.

sure you've hit the bottom but remember you'll be building from the ground up...

So happy.

[theasidonio]

Rosie: send me a PM and I'll find out the next screening of it. ;) also do the blues brothers which is a brilliant one!

Petra: the best way (IMO) if you have out of towners or people on limted budgets is to split the day across more than one venue. The last hen do I attended went like this.

Lunch at posh hotel

afternoon cokctails at a bar in Leicester Square

Comedy club in the evening

Some people came to everything, some people just came for lunch, some people came out in the evening. Something for everyone is the key!

[RosieH]

Would agree with that.

And given that it's March, the weather may be dicey, but consider a bit of street food for lunch / dinner, to offset the more expensive theatre visit.

Will you all be staying at the same place? You could even do a night in with pampering / brilliant girl films if you've been out all day and blown the budget.

[Moos]

So you wanna be a boxer in the golden ring

Can you punch like a southbound freight train?

Tell me just one thing

Can you move in a word like a honeybird's wing if you need to?

I'm IN LIKE FLYNN, RosieH. Me and Moosling love the songs.

[RosieH]

Can you bob, can you weave, can you fake and deceive when you need to?

Oh Moos, it may already be too late for us...

[Huguenot]

Well, you might as well quit if you haven't got it.

[El Pibe]

put him in the ring joe

[petra_29]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think she (secretly) has her heart set on Wicked. Other people have suggestions bowling/karaoke at All Star Lanes - does anyone have any experience of this place?

[Voyageur]

Can highly recommend Abigail's Party - perfect hen do fodder and we got Sat matinee tickets for ?15 each a couple of weeks ago from cheap ticket website.

[RosieH]

All star lanes - why I was there only yesterday. It's awesome, but not cheap - for two of us - two bowls, two drinks and half an hour's pool was ?30 / head. So making a whole night of it could be really pricey.

Do look at Bloomsbury Bowling - it's a bit tattier than All Star, but you might get better value for money - they often have bands on, and show films too - so you can make more of a night of it without forking out for more and more games. They have karaoke too - All Star rooms are much plusher - if you try Bloomsbury, go for a smaller room. I had a birthday karaoke session in the bigger room and the sound was rubbish (was just too big).

Also consider Karaoke Box in Farringdon. It's way swankier than the Soho one, (which is a dive, but a fun dive if you don't mind the smell of other people's sweat) but considerably cheaper than Lucky Voice, AND they have a dance floor - again making money go further because you can have a boogie for free after singing yourself hoarse.

[petra_29]

That's soooo helpful. Thank you.

[njc97]

My wife had hers in a room here:

http://www.imperial-china.co.uk/

Compared to prices of proper karaoke bars, I believe it was reasonably cheap. Food is ok rather than spectacular as well.

[Jeremy]

Problem is that the Chinese karaoke places tend to have a pretty poor choice of English songs, compared to somewhere like Karaoke Box.

[spooniferous]

Hen dos aside just wanted to flag up that Bugsy Malone is on for free in Nunhead tomorrow eve:

http://www.freefilmfestivals.org/whats-on/details/105-bugsy-malone-outdoors.html