Hen Night, with a small 'h'

[Archana]

I've picked the short straw and have to organise a restaurant for a hen night, but not of the 'L' plate variety - we're hoping to be much more sophisticated than that. So, e-gulleter's - any ideas for food good for a crowd, i know crowd and good food is usually an oxymoron. But, in the whole of London there must be somewhere.

Brief: Up to £50 per head. There will be approx 20 girls. Quite flexible as to location - but, central london preferable. Cuisine: anything. Ambience, somewhere not too stuffy, because i'm sure much wine will be consumed and 20 wined up females will not be quiet.

[Basildog]

Cornwall is not too far from London is it

well 20 ladies. at £50 a pop..a guys gotta try

[Miss J]

How about a night of cocktails & bar snacks at Match EC1? You should head off to Fabric afterwards.

[Charlene Leonard]

try and get a private dining room somewhere, most places don't want a table of 20 in the main dining room and don't mention it is for a hen night, it's a 'small party to celebrate your friend's forthcoming wedding'

[Miss J]

In fact, don't even mention the "w" word because it seems to increase the costs of everything exponentially. (Not that I'm bitter already, or anything.)

[Archana]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I was thinking i shouldn't mention that it's a hen night - it does have certain connotations of diamond white swigging lushe's with no social graces whatsoever.

Thoughts i had after reading your posts:-

Bam Bou

Moro

Anything tapasesque could work - any thoughts?? Or anywhere you could reccommend that does private rooms.

[Charlene Leonard]

Hi Archana,

here is a link to Square Meal's list of places with private rooms for 10-30

square meal

it's a bit of a mixed bunch, at a glance La Trouvaille would be good (lots of talk about it on the site, do a search), I am sure the waiters would entertain a group of women no problem!

good luck, i have just had to do the same but in Brighton for right in the middle of the festival - not an easy task believe me!

[Simon Majumdar]

can me, Tony F, Martin and Wilf come along and do a slightly creaky and wobbly version of the Chippendales for you?

PLEASE!

S

[Basildog]

I would mention that it was a hen night.Honesty is the best policy.I had a group book a large table..no mention that it was a stag night If i had known, i would have given them exclusive use of my place, and they would have had a better night

[Charlene Leonard]

but Basildog, as I've said before, you are Mr Lovely Restaurant Owner, not everyone is like you. Also your place is small enough for one group to take over, if the restaurant has 50+ covers for example, I doubt they would give you exclusive use of the restaurant. Mention hen night to people and they immediately conjure up images of white veils covered in pubic hair and screaming banshees licking tequila off a strippers chest, whereas the likes of me and Archana are far more sophiscated than that!

P.S Simon, I think you've posted on the wrong thread - it's the St.John's one that is about hairy, pot bellied swine.

[Basildog]

But Charlene, what i am saying that if a restuarant knows that its a "hen night" then they can cater for you better.And i know that some people have civilised hen nights, we have done a couple here!

[Archana]

Charlene, you know where i'm coming from. The men are just using at an excuse to think orgy thoughts. If any of the guests are single maybe simon et al would like to email them directly and discuss their fantasies, gastronomic or otherwise!!

In the meantime i'll have a look on Square meal and see what they've got. This is the first and last time i want to organise something like this. When i go down the aisle i'll be considerate and do it somewhere far, far away that doesn't have hen nights, so my friends won't have to spend hours thinking about venues!

Maybe we should just get one of those huge, crusty slabs of what they call pizza in Leicester square and gnaw on that!

[Charlene Leonard]

But Charlene, what i am saying that if a restuarant knows that its a "hen night" then they can cater for you better.

what sort of thing would you do?

[Basildog]

Phallic shaped desserts, naked waiters...that kind of thing

Not really...any group will be caterered for better when you know more about it.The last one we did was a group of Irish ladies from Dublin.Printed menus just for them, chicks love momentos Wrote a menu arround what they liked, wines etc.I do take the point that restaurants are frightened of the words "HEN NIGHT"

[Miss J]

I love the atmosphere at Bam Bou, and once attended a fun girlie dinner in their private room, but the food has always been a bit of a let down. It's presented nicely, though. I usually stick to the cocktails, myself.

Moro would be much better on the food front. I haven't been in ages though, so I'm not sure if they have a private room or not. Anyone?