Need ideas for HEN January 2016

crappyireland

Hi there,

I'm looking for advice please!
My hen is going to be 16 January 2016 (had to narrow down date for the guests)
Approx 17 people.
My bridesmaids are organising it but I want to give them an idea of what I'd like - that's problem!! I've no idea!!

Anyone have suggestions of where/what would be good in January.

I like idea of a classy day/night. Not usual trashy stuff. Thinking nice hotel- afternoon tea/ or an activity.. Nice dinner and drinks

I'm from cork and willing to go anywhere really, like idea of Kilkenny.

Would LOVE to hear her reviews or ideas on what to do

Pistachios & cream

One of my favourite hens was in the brehon hotel in Killarney. They if a lovely package of champagne reception with chocolate covered strawberries etc. dinner, b&b and spa passes. They don't allow any hen regalia in the hotel and her bridesmaids just put a veil and sash on her when we went to the pub after.

pooch90

I immediately thought of afternoon tea in the Lyrath. On a side note,my baby is due that day:)

crappyireland

Aw congrats pooch90!!!!!

Killarney is a bit local to me, it's a place me and my girls would go for a regular weekend... brehonnis fab though

pooch90

Thanks very much, very exciting!
Really if you want to avoid the trashy kind of vibe I would be reluctant to recommend Kilkenny to you. Have only been to one hen there and it was mobbed with hens and stags. Same as Carrick on Shannon I believe. If its your hen, I would just give the girls an idea of what you'd like and let them run with it,location etc. You will have enough to do without worrying about hen. What I would say is, January is very tight for people financially so something that won't cost guests the earth would be a must in my book. Even with plenty of notice, you can't get away from the price of Xmas.

crappyireland

Ooh yea that's one of my main priorities - financial implications of the hen...
January was picked due to people being home etc from abroad / work commitments...

I'm hoping to get a nice deal for us so we can get through the January blues..

Nice hotel deal even... Including dinner... Have some prosecco to start off a fab evening of giggles and fun

jlm29

Kilkenny is always really expensive to stay in too. I know lots of hotels are central, and therefore costs are cut with taxis etc, but it's still awful dear!

pooch90

We went to the park hotel in dungarvan for mine, dinner included and late residents bar with brilliant night porter Mick. Think it was about 50 a head, the girls organised a burlesque class in the hotel too, not sure how much that was. Dungarvan not rocking,night club was pants but bars were good fun.

westernlass

Look up roundwood house. You stay in an exclusive house, afternoon tea, dinner and then pub. It's in laois and really good value when there's a group. They can organize activites like a hat making class too. Hannah is so nice.

amdublin

What kind of budget are you thinking?


Considering it is just after Christmas I imagine people are going to be on the budget.


Afternoon tea sounds lovely - some afternoon teas are large enough that you won't need to think about dinner.


If you do want to go with a dinner then I suggest you skip the afternoon tea and just do the dinner. You can probably find a restaurant that does a good deal for two/three courses.

fits

Our wedding was at far end of the country so i was budget conscious about the hen. We went kayaking locally and then to a lovely old bar for a drink and then back to my mum's for dinner and homemade cocktails. It was really nice and no hassle or much in the way of expense at all for the people who came. Husband did similar for his stag.

amdublin

For my hen party I hosted a Se% & the City party in my house - food and cosmopolitans. We all dressed in the style of our favourite character. Then we headed into town (lateish) to a bar for a drink and then on to a nightclub for the night.

crappyireland

Thanks to all.. Im thinking €100 mark ( if that's possible)

I like idea of afternoon tea..
Also: i like the idea of a mani/pedi pamper and go for nice yummy dinner after. I lived abroad for while and there was nail salons that could cater for 12-15 people. Any such place in Ireland??

Agh I'm so indecisive!!!!

Electric Sheep

pooch90 wrote: »

We went to the park hotel in dungarvan for mine, dinner included and late residents bar with brilliant night porter Mick. Think it was about 50 a head, the girls organised a burlesque class in the hotel too, not sure how much that was. Dungarvan not rocking,night club was pants but bars were good fun.

Nothing says classy like burlesque...

Princess Peach

crappyireland wrote: »

Thanks to all.. Im thinking €100 mark ( if that's possible)

I like idea of afternoon tea..
Also: i like the idea of a mani/pedi pamper and go for nice yummy dinner after. I lived abroad for while and there was nail salons that could cater for 12-15 people. Any such place in Ireland??

Agh I'm so indecisive!!!!

There are nail salons in Dublin that do hen parties. Can't get an appointment on a Saturday in Tropical Popical cause they are usually booked out for a hen When you pick a location ring around a few salons and check for sure!

pooch90

Electric Sheep wrote: »

Nothing says classy like burlesque...

Bit unnecessary ES.

pwurple

Hey OP, I'm from cork too... And you said Killarney is a bit near, but you are trying not to break the bank too?

What about staying in Cork? There are a few places around that do the nail thing for groups. Devereux I think, and New York Nails maybe? Afternoon tea, sure can be had all over the place, but you could book someplace cool like the clarion penthouse or the cricket grounds by Ucc, or you could head off to castlemarty or Kinsale. You can spend a bit more if accommodation is taken care of you see.

If the staycation hen doesn't appeal, then I have had great fun on hen parties in Galway, and in Derry. Galway we pretty much lived in the G hotel for two days. Hung around the spa, had cocktails and drinks and dinner there. Very chilled, very grown up hen. No willy straws. Derry was a blast because it felt like a holiday even though it was just a drive, but it is a fair spin from Cork is the only thing.

amdublin

crappyireland wrote: »

Thanks to all.. Im thinking €100 mark ( if that's possible)

I like idea of afternoon tea..
Also: i like the idea of a mani/pedi pamper and go for nice yummy dinner after. I lived abroad for while and there was nail salons that could cater for 12-15 people. Any such place in Ireland??

Agh I'm so indecisive!!!!

What does tgat €100 include?

Do people still need to factor accommodation and drink on top of that?

€100 is a Lot of money. Straight after Christmas - oh jeez. If it's more than a €100 I. E. Still have to factor the above expect some fall outs.

A salon for a manicure sounds lovely.

Typer Monkey

Yeah OP I think if you're trying to be considerate of the people attending so soon after xmas a night in a hotel with dinner, multiple activities on top of drinking money is probably not the way to go. You don't HAVE to go away to a hotel for the night. I just had a local night in a late bar/niteclub with finger food and it was great. Everyone could go home afterwards and it didn't cost anybody anything more than drinks/taxi home.

Up to you obviously but €100 + per head isn't realky keeping the costs down for people however you look at it

ibarelycare

You're unlikely to get accommodation, dinner and an activity/manicure/afternoon tea for as little as €100 a head.

If I was going on a night away for a hen, I'd expect to pay at least €150 for accommodation, dinner and activity, and then drinks and transport would be on top of that. I wouldn't mind paying that for that if it was a hen I really wanted to go to.

As others have said though, January is a tight month for most so a night away mightn't be the best idea.

stickybookmark

B&Bs or self catering where everyone shares will be much cheaper than a hotel. With self catering ye will still have the kitchen/sitting room where everyone can congregate for the drinking games etc. It can be fancy dress with a theme. Plus alot of the food can be eat in which is cheaper. Like the bridesmaids can just rustle up frozen pizzas and salads for everyone. Then play drinking games then go on to a pub after. We did this for night 1 of a 2 night hen that I helped organise and it was great craic, even better than night 2 which was dinner for everyone in a restaurant.

CaraMay

Went to a fab hen in Carton House in Maynooth. The hens had organised a professional cocktail maker to come in and teach us how to make 3 cocktails (the brides favourite). We then went for dinner in the hotel and into a local nightclub. It was very tasteful and relaxed.

adub

I'm having a breakfast in Tiffanys hen in Naas incl dinner, cocktail making and hotel for €97. Then getting goodies like pearls/long black gloves and personalised sashes. Asking all the ladies to wear black. A lot of my friends can't make it so it's mostly family but hopefully it'll be a good night anyway.

amdublin

Sounds lovely adub!

Are you organising/paying for the pearls, gloves and sashes? Or is that a cost on top of the €97 for everything else?

Mimojo

Hey

I had my hen 2 weeks ago & had a brilliant time in Kilkenny. I really didn't want a bit fuss, no L plates or any of that nonsense, just not me at all. There were 8 of us so a very small group, just wanted the people closes to me. We stayed in Beechview Apartments which are really lovely, a little outside the town but no distance in a taxi. The lady there is really helpful by all accounts, will help to organise anything you like, plenty of options for activities etc, and can do food in the apartment if needed.

The Friday night we all arrived & we just sat and had a takeaway that evening with plenty of wine and treats, really nice and relaxed and everyone had a good chat.

Saturday then we had brekkie, and headed for the Lyrath for afternoon tea, followed by spa treatment each and spent the day in spa after. It was one of the nicest days ever, so relaxing, and I needed it after all the wedding organising! Afterwards went back to the apartment to get ready, my sister had booked me in at the hairdressers downstairs to get my hair done, and then headed out to Kilkenny for a meal at 7.30, and out to the Left Bank for the night after. Had such a lovely time, really relaxing, and everything was just really lovely, including the apartment, would highly recommend it all!

I am not sure on the price tbh as the cost was split between everyone (which was lovely!). I know the Lyrath did afternoon tea, treatment and use of spa for 65per person as far as I know. The apartment was def less expensive that staying the Lyrath itself, that is why my BM went for it. And I know staying in a hotel is lovely, but this was great as could sit around and chat in the apartment on the Friday night and it didn't cost everyone on drinks etc on a night out, and then the Sat was pre-paid for the afternoon tea, spa and dinner, so the only additional money needed was for drinks on the Sat night.

Electric Sheep

adub wrote: »

I'm having a breakfast in Tiffanys hen in Naas incl dinner, cocktail making and hotel for €97. Then getting goodies like pearls/long black gloves and personalised sashes. Asking all the ladies to wear black. A lot of my friends can't make it so it's mostly family but hopefully it'll be a good night anyway.

Sounds lovely, but I would ditch the sashes, they will detract from the look. Maybe go for the long cigarette holder instead (you don't need to actually use them).

kildareash

We went with self catering option too in fab houses in wexford.
I know people were skeptical about the concept first and it sounded like a lot of money but we included everything in the orginal price so people didn't have to put their hands in their pockets until we went to the pub on the Saturday night.
Lots of compliments when people were leaving on how little they spent.

However the s/c option is a lot more work and organisation for the organiser. There was lots of phone calls and emails in the week leading up to the hen with various service providers but it was worth it to make sure everything went to perfection over the weekend.

Mimojo

kildareash wrote: »

We went with self catering option too in fab houses in wexford.
I know people were skeptical about the concept first and it sounded like a lot of money but we included everything in the orginal price so people didn't have to put their hands in their pockets until we went to the pub on the Saturday night.
Lots of compliments when people were leaving on how little they spent.

However the s/c option is a lot more work and organisation for the organiser. There was lots of phone calls and emails in the week leading up to the hen with various service providers but it was worth it to make sure everything went to perfection over the weekend.

I would agree, the s/c option is def a lot more work on your BM, I know from my sister there was a lot of over and back getting everything organised.

But same as that, she collected money from everyone for everything in advance, so accommodation, afternoon tea, spa treatment, takeaway on the Fri and dinner on the Sat etc, so everything was paid up in advance. It was only the Sat night drinks that were additional. Most people though this was really handy to have it paid in advance.

Typer Monkey

Mimojo wrote: »

I would agree, the s/c option is def a lot more work on your BM, I know from my sister there was a lot of over and back getting everything organised.

But same as that, she collected money from everyone for everything in advance, so accommodation, afternoon tea, spa treatment, takeaway on the Fri and dinner on the Sat etc, so everything was paid up in advance. It was only the Sat night drinks that were additional. Most people though this was really handy to have it paid in advance.

How much did that cost everyone per head tho? The OP's bridesmaid would probably be looking for all that advance money in the run up to xmas. Obviously it's everyone's individual choice but I'd hate to be asking people to shell out hundreds for my party either just before or just after xmas

kildareash

Typer Monkey wrote: »

How much did that cost everyone per head tho? The OP's bridesmaid would probably be looking for all that advance money in the run up to xmas. Obviously it's everyone's individual choice but I'd hate to be asking people to shell out hundreds for my party either just before or just after xmas

Mine was €190 for dinner in the house on Friday night, all the drinks, snacks, breakfast on both mornings (eggs, bread, beans, butter and milk and we cooked it ourselves), afternoon tea and fun activity on Saturday afternoon, dinner, wine and nightclub and 2xbus transfers.

I don't think the OP is going to find it difficult get a night in the hotel and afternoon tea or beauty treatment for €100 per head.

I genuinely hated asking people for so much money, but i knew when people arrived and seen what they were getting for their money they would feel like it was good value. My SIL to be, said you might aswell write off €500 when you're invited to a hen (or stag) But I'd say they were hard pressed to spend more than €50 on drink in the pub and nightclub.

I've been on hens, where at the outset it looks cheaper, but then add in the taxis, wine with the meal, drink etc and it actually works out more expensive.

OP, it's better to spend a few days researching exactly what you want to do and trying to get the best price possible for it. I sat down with my BM and the laptop one night and we just went through every possibility of what we wanted for the weekend, and I'm delighted with what we came up with.

If you want to do the manicures thing, maybe you could see if there was any local girls who could come to you in the hotel. The hotel might give you a room FOC to set this up in. It would be a good meeting point for your group and ye could have a few glasses of bubbly while it was happening too. It's a good way for people who don't know one another to start talking and all the awkwardness and shyness is gone before the meal.

solerina

kildareash wrote: »

Mine was €190 for dinner in the house on Friday night, all the drinks, snacks, breakfast on both mornings (eggs, bread, beans, butter and milk and we cooked it ourselves), afternoon tea and fun activity on Saturday afternoon, dinner, wine and nightclub and 2xbus transfers.

I don't think the OP is going to find it difficult get a night in the hotel and afternoon tea or beauty treatment for €100 per head.

I genuinely hated asking people for so much money, but i knew when people arrived and seen what they were getting for their money they would feel like it was good value. My SIL to be, said you might aswell write off €500 when you're invited to a hen (or stag) But I'd say they were hard pressed to spend more than €50 on drink in the pub and nightclub.

I've been on hens, where at the outset it looks cheaper, but then add in the taxis, wine with the meal, drink etc and it actually works out more expensive.

OP, it's better to spend a few days researching exactly what you want to do and trying to get the best price possible for it. I sat down with my BM and the laptop one night and we just went through every possibility of what we wanted for the weekend, and I'm delighted with what we came up with.

If you want to do the manicures thing, maybe you could see if there was any local girls who could come to you in the hotel. The hotel might give you a room FOC to set this up in. It would be a good meeting point for your group and ye could have a few glasses of bubbly while it was happening too. It's a good way for people who don't know one another to start talking and all the awkwardness and shyness is gone before the meal.

I for one wouldn't be going to that hen....190 for a hen is crazy expensive imo, you have a lot included, and it's possibly good value for money, but if someone wasn't drinking it's expensive...and drinking or not 190 is a lot of money !!!

Typer Monkey

I'm sure you did get value for money but spending €250 (including the €50 estimate for the drink)on someone's hen is insane!

kildareash

solerina wrote: »

I for one wouldn't be going to that hen....190 for a hen is crazy expensive imo, you have a lot included, and it's possibly good value for money, but if someone wasn't drinking it's expensive...and drinking or not 190 is a lot of money !!!

It's an awful lot of money, I 100% agree with you and I'm sure the price ruled a couple of people out, and I have no issue with that. There was a few people I didn't invite because I know they wouldn't have a whole lot of disposable cash and I didn't want to put them under pressure either.

But I haven't been on a hen that cost under €150 and I've easily spent €100 on drink on top of that. Between wine on the meal and drinks after.

Mimojo

Typer Monkey wrote: »

How much did that cost everyone per head tho? The OP's bridesmaid would probably be looking for all that advance money in the run up to xmas. Obviously it's everyone's individual choice but I'd hate to be asking people to shell out hundreds for my party either just before or just after xmas

Cost per head was 165e for everything, except what you spend on drinks on the Sat night.

Yes I do agree, its a lot to ask someone to pay. Also everyone brought either a small prezzie, bottles of wine or bubbly, sweets, crisps, brekkie food etc with them, so that added to the cost. I only had my immediate family and a handful of very close friends at it, as felt it was a lot to ask others to spend. Add in the cost of petrol, likely getting an outfit for it etc, hens are deffo very expensive on those attending, I know from going to others one how the costs can add up.

I think limiting it one night is a good way to reduce down the cost a bit.

stickybookmark

kildareash wrote: »

Mine was €190 for dinner in the house on Friday night, all the drinks, snacks, breakfast on both mornings (eggs, bread, beans, butter and milk and we cooked it ourselves)

I could have gotten over the 190 a head, but at that price no rashers & sausages........................?

Unforgivable

kildareash

stickybookmark wrote: »

I could have gotten over the 190 a head, but at that price no rashers & sausages........................?

Unforgivable

They had eggs and beans...what more could you want?????

annoyedgal

Mimojo wrote:

I think limiting it one night is a good way to reduce down the cost a bit.

This is definitely the way to go! And don't get me started about hens abroad! This seems to be creeping back in. Spent over 500 going to one recently !! Thought that practice had died along with the celtic tiger!

amdublin

Personally I think one night in your home town (no accommodation costs) is adequate for a hen. Once you factor in accommodation, transport and breakfast/lunch into a hen away things get expensive.

I like hens that don't cost me more than €90/100 all in.
ie. Meal €30*
Drinks €40/50
Taxi €20

*if we can skip the meal and the bride organises finger food all the better.