Location Spotlight: A Brighton Hen Do

Welcome to the first in my Location Spotlight series. There are tons of places all over the UK (and the rest of the world) that are perfect for hen dos, and so the aim of this monthly feature is to give you some tips on holding hens all over the shop based on my own experience and that of my friends.

First up is Brighton. I went to a hen do there a couple of weeks ago, which is actually what inspired me to start this blog! Brighton is MADE for hen dos. You can't move for pink cowboy hats. For real. We ran into several when we were out and about - including a group in awesomely hideous 80s bridesmaid dresses. LOVE that idea!

I think Brighton is so popular because it's a very liberal city. It's also very easy to get to - around an hour on the train from London (and Gatwick is on the same line). The only downside is that it's pricey - London prices for drinks and reasonably priced hotels/apartments are hard to find. It's doable though - and because it's such a vibrant place, you don't necessarily need to spend as much on activities as there is tons to do.


Where to stay
Brighton is very popular and so accommodation books up fast. In the summer you're looking at a 2 night minimum stay pretty much everywhere and even the shabby B&Bs are £100 a night. Book in advance, if you can! Here are some options, though...

Self catering: We stayed here - it sleeps 10 and was just off the main high street. It was perfect, I highly recommend. From £60 a weekend, based on 10 sharing.
Another friend is staying here which looks awesome. From £70 a weekend, based on 17 sharing.

Hotels: The Hilton is lovely (amazing breakfast!) and right on the seafront. From £94 a night.
On a smaller budget, Travelodge is just off the seafront and is from only £23 a night (depending when you book) and the Premier Travel Inn is from £53 a night.

Where to eat
There are tons of restaurants in Brighton, but these are some of my favourites:
Smokey's - BBQ is having a moment, but who can complain when it's this good? Huge portions, hen friendly!
Foodilic - An awesome buffet of tasty salady bits - amazing if you need some goodness after boozy badness.
Lucky Beach - mindblowing pulled pork, incredible burgers
JB's Diner - amazing diner food and boozy milkshakes
Fish & Chips on the beach - you can't not, can you?

What to do
Head to the pier for old fashioned seaside fun. There's a huge arcade on the pier and loads of rides. Or just go for a paddle, if the weather is good.

Pole dancing classes are super popular for hens now. I did it once - in Brighton - and was shockingly bad at it. No upper body strength, you see. You can do it at Bar 76 (more on that below) or book through here. But do a google - there are loads of places that offer it. It's a lot of fun, even if you're rubbish like me.

Bar 76 is a bar that seems to be designed for hen dos. They do activities such as dance classes, cocktail making and themed movie nights. We did the Coyote Ugly dance class, which is a 2 hour lesson in the day, then VIP treatment back at the bar in the evening before performing the dance ON THE BAR in front of everyone. One for the more confident of hens, but even the shyer ones amongst us loved it.

Cabaret & Strippers - A friend of mine is going to a hen do at Adonis Cabaret soon. If you want to go full on tacky and traditional, this looks PERFECT. Strippers are way more acceptable since Magic Mike, right?

Shop - Brighton is AMAZING for shopping. The Lanes are full of awesome independent shops, but if you venture towards Churchill Square you'll also find high street heaven. I don't think I've ever left Brighton without a new dress.


Best bars
Riki Tik - Reggae and cocktails
Bar 76 - Hen do heaven
The Black Dove - Great decor and yet more awesome cocktails
The Bee’s Mouth - Amazing live music
Twisted Lemon - Cheap & cheerful
Oceana - It's not big, it's not clever. But it does have a light up dancefloor!

If you have any questions about Brighton or any more suggestions, let me know in the comments!