Would you lovely ladies mind helping me plan my hen weekend?

Hi Ladies

Just nipped into this forum 'cause 10 of us are coming over to Belfast for my hen weekend on May 1st and I was hoping that you ladies could help me out with planning as I have never been to Belfast before - which is kind of why I chose it in the first place!

Anyway, we're staying at The Holiday Inn, Ormeau St (I think thats right?) 'cause, well, we got a decent deal and its the only hotel I could find in central Belfast with a pool/spa which some of us wanted.

We don't get in til Saturday afternoon (RyanAir, grrr, changed flight times). Ages range from early 30's to late 40's and include some of my stylish London friends so nowt tacky yet, at the same time, I'd really like us to have some fun.

Suggestions wise, I was looking for comedy clubs for perhaps part of the Saturday night but can't seem to find any. We need to eat (prefer not chicken in the basket like a lot of comedy clubs though) and, well, a few tipples are a must! Ideally, I think I'd like a late bar with a clubby type atmosphere that has good music - am fine with cheesy - and a mixed age range so no one feels out of place but we can still get a bit glammed up would also be nice.

I also thought the Allens city tour might be an idea for Sunday morning after breakfast, perhaps leaving the afternoon free for people to do their own thing i.e. go shopping, go to the cathedral quarter as I know it has a street fair on that weekend or something like that.

Was thinking we could all then meet back up late afternoon and go somewhere for a really nice Sunday lunch type thing followed by a cocktail mixology session. I contacted The Merchant Hotel and they can do something for us on Sunday 2nd evening but it's a bit pricey at £50 or £75 each. Anyone done this or know of anywhere else I could try?

So, other than The Merchant option and having read about Allens tours on trip advisor, I am at a loss! We all fly back at various times on Monday as we are flying from 3 different airports.

Any help would be most appreciated!

Thanks

Karen xx

Uh oh, Belfast is quite tacky in general! In terms of a late bar, most places in belfast stay open to about 1-2 but otherwise there are only a couple of (dingy) clubs that stay open later. Good mixed age club atmosphere type choices close to the hotel which arn't too tacky would be The Apartment and Cafe Vaudeville. The bar in the hotel itself does stay open late I think (seem to remember a late drink there with someone who was staying once) so people who wanted to stay up late could do there.

As far as comedy goes, there is only one, recently opened, actual dedicated comedy club in Belfast as far as I know. It's in the odyssey and has about 1 show a week so you could check that out. Closer to your hotel I have seen signs outside the waterfront for magners comedy or something but don't know anything about that.

Don't know anything about mixology but the merchant is nice and it sounds fun!

I would also recommend the apartment for dinner and cocktails and Cafe Vaudeville for the same. Though Cafe doesn't open on a sunday. You might want to try and contact the apartment for mixology?

The empire is another comedy club you could try? Maddisons is nearby and they get an older crowd.

Tedfords and The Moure Seafood bar are lovely to eat also!

The lisburn road has some nice chic places to go. There is the chelsea bar there (again an older crowd) and there is a place that has been reopened. It was called tatu (if you phoned the chelsea they would tell you!) but I'm not that sure what it is now...though either of those might do mixology for you?

The Mechant has a night club called ollies..it's good. (in the cathedral quarter)

Most places close at 2 or so. Ollies is open til 3am. After that tehre are other clubs still open...all ravey though! lol

Belfast is good! Good shopping and plenty of nice upmarket bars and places to eat!

ps the holiday inn is nice..the gym etc are very good and it's very central!!!

Pretty sure the Empire only does comedy on Tuesdays.

Hi Both

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I've checked out the Empire and, yes, I think it is only Tuesdays for the comedy night. I'll do a search and see when the Magners place is due to open though, you never know, it may be in time.

I've heard good things about The Apartment and Cafe Vaudeville so I'll check those out further. Id we didn't want to eat there, just go there after food on Saturday night for cocktails and late drinkies, do you know of any nice food and good atmosphere type places nearby?

Thanks again

Karen

Ok - I quickly checked out the Magners Waterfront site, nothing for May 1st or 2nd that I think would appeal. I think I may have to ditch the comedy club idea which is a shame.

Any other left of field reccy's????

Karen x

Hi Karen,
I live near Belfast & we had my sister's hen in Belfast a few years ago. Just a quick couple of suggestions. Mal maison has a private dining area & they offer cocktail courses (we thought about this for my sister's hen). I'm not sure of prices but definitely contact them - their events manager is really helpful.
Also, we went to the Harbourview Teppanyaki the 1st night. It's a lovely atmosphere & looks over the river...it's entertainment in itself with the chefs cooking in front of you! although it can be expensive.
We also did the bus tour, which I enjoyed even though I'm from here, we went for drinks in the Crown, Belfast's oldest bar & we went out to the Potthouse. It's quite good, stylish, with cocktails. If the weather's nice you should think about 2taps in the catherdral quarter... tapas bar with outdoor dining, or the Ivory in Vic Sq has a nice balcony overlooking Belfast.
Hope you enjoy your weekend!

God, it sounds like I work for Belfast tourist board!

This restaurant is brilliant, loved it. Though our meal cost about £120 when I went there with J but that was for sushi, 2 bottles of wine and 2 mains.

The Comedy Club in the Odysses is called The Laughter Lounge
http://www.laughterlounge.com/belfast_odisseyvip/index_belfast.php

It's just across the bridge from the Harbourview restaurant but that is very expensive although gorgeous as a real treat!! Our meals ended up at £80 each!!!!

There are plenty of nice places to eat in Belfast. There's a place called Cocos in Linenhall street - just behind the city hall and not far from the Holiday Inn. Lovely place and food and about £15 - £20 a main course.

More or less across the road from this there is The Apartment bar - good funky clubby music with live djs and nice cocktails. You can get food here too if you like.
http://www.apartmentbelfast.com/
They also have happy hour all day sunday.

Across from there again is Cafe Vauderville. They have a VIP area and a champagne bar upstairs that you can reserve. Not sure of the cost though. They also do food.

The Merchant Hotel does mixology classes and has a gorgeous bar. they do really nice afternoon tea too if that interests you. I'm not so fussed on their club Ollie's. It's a bit tacky to be honest.

The Potthouse is closed now but there are still a few places open until 3 or so but they do tend to be more ravey. I love Mono in Ann street- more clubby than ravey. There is a newer club called Slide which is above a bistro called The Little Wing in Ann street. We were there on saturday and there is a separate room with a circular bed for chilling out on - you have to reserve this in advance as well.

There are lots of bring-your-own-bottle places to eat too. if that's what you would want give me a shout back.
Hope this helps.

Cool, what's that club like? Music etc?

There is different music on the 2 levels - from what i remember more Motown and older stuff downstairs and dancier stuff upstairs. I remember dancing to the starsky and hutch theme tune and salt n peppa's Push it! Was good fun! It's quite small tho.

Ladies

You are stars, thank you so much! Have been away, now back and I rang MalMaison. They are half the price of The Merchant for the mixology session and have availability on the Sat night when I ideally wanted it. Perfect

Thanks again

Karen xx

Karen,

Be sure to get them to put the film "Cocktail" on the big screen when you're doing the class. The lady I spoke to at MalMaison suggested it & I thought it was a great idea!

Have fun

Oh by the way, I went to go to the Harbourview Teppanyaki last Friday for a treat and it seems to have closed down .