Portsmouth Hen Do

Star Bars

Bar 38 - This stylish bar in the shadow of the Spinnaker Tower looks a bit like a lighthouse from the outside, but you won't need to put out the searchlights for a good time with the range of fancy cocktails you'll find here!
Where? Boilevard Building, P01 3TW

The Marmion - Looking for the perfect pub? We think The Marmion could be it, with its fantastic wine lists and top quality nosh this could be a great starting point for a Portsmouth night out...and it's never looked better thanks to a recent refurb!
Where? 20 Marmion Road, P05 2BA

The Wine Vaults - If you're looking for a bit of a late-afternoon tipple then The Wine Vaults is the place to do it! Mixing the girl and the grape is never a bad idea, and there's even quality pub grub to be enjoyed - but the wine's the main attraction.
Where? 41-47 Albert Road, PO5 2SF

Best Bites

Hole in the Wall - It might look like an ordinary British boozer from the outside, but inside the Hole in the Wall is one of the prettiest pubs we've ever been in. There's beer mats from days gone by on the ceiling and there's real love in the quirky pub décor that makes this place a joy to dine in. Plus O'Hagan's sausages are to die for.
Where? 36 Great Southsea Street, PO5 3BY

The Fat Fox - Getting ready to hit the town for a big night out? This stylish diner is absolutely laverly, and with Burgers, Pizzas and Sausage & Mash on the menu, you can't go wrong if you're looking to banish a wicked hangover!
Where? 13 Victoria Road, Southsea, P05 2SP

Sights & Sounds

Sights
Sights and Sounds in Portsmouth If you're unfamiliar with Portsmouth, you might not be aware of this absolutely massive local landmark, but trust us, it'll probably be one of the first things you notice on your hen-do. The Spinnaker Tower is taller than the London Eye, Blackpool Tower and Big Ben and it offers truly amazing 360 degree views of the city and beyond. It's not ideal if you're scared of heights, but if you're up for it, this is an amazing experience that you simply must try on your big weekend here.

Sounds
Portsmouth's Liquid is a truly phenomenal nightclub that celebrates decadence and luxury over all other things. It's exactly the kind of indulgence you deserve on your special weekend and with a DJ spinning chart hits and alternative floor fillers, you're guaranteed a fabulous evening on the tiles.
We've all heard of TigerTiger, but unless you've ever been to their Portsmouth venue, you're missing out; big time. With a harbour terrace and the funkiest tiki bar around, this is the kind of place where hen party memories are made!

In the Diary

June - Portsmouth Festivities. A celebration of all the things that makes this cute waterside town with a carnival atmosphere and plenty of performances.
August - Victorious Festival. Tinie Tempah, The Fratellis and The Darkness have all played this up-and-coming festival in the past few years.
August - Kite Festival. One of the UK's biggest kite festivals, you'll be amazed by the amazing array of sky bound shapes hanging above the harbour side!
November - Victorian Christmas Festival. If this doesn't get you in the festive spirit then your second name is probably Scrooge...

Top of the Shops

Portsmouth is a waterside town with style in its heart and soul. Fashionistas and style-icons all rave about the upmarket stores in the Quays, but with the wide variety of bijou vintage boutiques around, you'll be pleased to know that more often than not you can make away with something that looks like a bank-breaker for half the price!

Dead Man's Glory - The name is a little, errr, interesting? But you shouldn't let that put you off, there are some retro-chic steals here that you'd be gutted to miss!
Where? 77 Fawcett Road, PO4 0DN

Dress Code - Inked-up brides-to-be will love this alternative boutique full of weird and wonderful vintage threads.
Where? 1 Albert Road, PO5 2SE

One Legged Jockey - We wouldn't be surprised to spot Tim Burton buying costumes for his next hit film in here - this is flagrantly colourful and it's sure to please any nearly-wed with an eye for visually arresting fashion.
Where? 9 Marmion Road, PO5 2AT

Girls About Town - Getting around Portsmouth...

Portsmouth is on the up-and-up and there's plenty to see and do here! To help you get around there's an excellent bus network that'll take you to all the hip and happening places in the city as well as train services with strong links to London, Southampton and the rest of the South East and West.

Hen Days

Portsmouth has some seriously big nights out, but it certainly doesn't fare too badly during the day either! There's fabulous fun to be had in the waterside city and with a wide range of options to choose from, you're sure to find something to get all the girls giggling. Whether that's Cocktail Mixing, Pole Dancing, Dirty Dancing or Go Karting depends on what you're up for! Of course a Pampering Day is always an all-round success and you can't go wrong with a sophisticated Wine Tasting. See all our hen day options...

Hen Nights

When the sun goes down and the neon lights of bars and clubs flicker on, Portsmouth transforms into a buzzing hub of excitement that celebrates late nights and good times. Why don't you allow our hunky Butlers in the Buff to get your evening underway with a variety of tantalising services? Then, you might fancy a spot of Karaoke, or if you're feeling lucky, why don't you boogie on down to the Casino? A visit to a Comedy Club is pretty much guaranteed to tickle the ladies' funny bones and then you can round the night off with Guestlist Nightclubbing. See all our nightlife options...

It's time for a hen party in Portsmouth!

Portsmouth - a historic waterfront gem and a hit with tourists all summer. Even better, it's a hen party destination too. Portsmouth is an island city, meaning they've crammed absolutely everything you could possibly need on to one little island. Portsmouth may be historic, but the activities and nightlife are bang up to date, as the massive student population keeps the city thriving and growing at a rapid rate, casting off the old and turning Portsmouth in to a diverse, multicultural city with a whole lot to offer hen parties from all over the UK.

Why: Reasons to celebrate a Portsmouth hen party

Portsmouth is a real mix of the modern and aged, with the old and new clashing to bring a rare mix of styles and cultures to the city - just look at the historic docks next to the iconic Spinnaker Tower. Although Portsmouth's proud naval tradition is evident the island is firmly situated in the present now, with award-winning shopping facilities easily capable of matching the rest of the UK for retail therapy turning this burgeoning metropolis mature into a shopper's paradise, and a complementary array of bustling waterside restaurants, wine bars and lively nightclubs.

Speaking of the nightlife - it's phenomenal. The huge student population means a lot of call for bars, pubs and clubs to entertain them, and the island location means they've squeezed a lot of options in a relatively small space. Portsmouth also has the densest population in the UK outside of London, so you're guaranteed no quiet or dead nights in the clubs either.

What: What to do in Portsmouth

The obvious things are the water sports activities - with sea literally surrounding the largest part of the city, Portsmouth is fast becoming one of the premier waterfront destinations in the UK for a ship shape hen do. During the summer months, when the sun is hot and the beaches are full, taking a dip with some sailing or white water ribbing is a fantastic way to spend some time with the girls. If you don't fancy getting wet, though, or are planning on a winter hen party, there's plenty else to do on island. Along with the award-winning shopping and the buzzing nightlife, there's also a range of 45 different hen activities for during the day, and 12 different nightlife leisure options for your Portsmouth hen do.

Shop: Portsmouth shopping areas & recommendations

All your main shopping needs can be met at Commercial Road in the centre, where you'll find shops like Debenhams, Republic, River Island, Wilkinsons, HMV and many more. If you're after some more designer finds then head the girls over to the award-winning Gunwharf Quays, which has over 95 designer outlets. Nearby on Marmion Road and Osbourne Road there's a luxurious range of great chocolatiers, award-winning jewellers and shoe boutiques as well as a full range of bars, cafes and restaurants whilst bohemian Southsea, with its cobbled streets and seafront promenade, offers a dazzling array of vintage boutiques, and quirky cafes where you can enjoy a spot of tea with the girls.

When: The best times to Portsmouth

A summer hen do in Portsmouth should be top of your list. As well as the selection of water-based action to be had, there are also beaches to sun yourself on - not quite as good in the drizzly English winters. There's plenty of festivals and events going on over the summer too, like including Live at the Bandstand in June, a popular free event with great music performances, Last Night of the Portchester Proms which is held at Portchester Castle in July, and the famous Portsmouth International Kite Festival in August. That doesn't mean you can't go for an off-seasons Portsmouth hen party though. We've got plenty of activities that can be done in any season, like dance classes, arts and crafts, and pampering, and there are still a selection of annual events on then too - in September you pay a visit to the Portsmouth Multicultural Festival and then in October cheer on the crowds at the Great South Run Weekend... not to mention the frequent Greyhound Racing events, weekly markets and scores of fantastic concerts and performances.

How: getting to Portsmouth?

Once you've driven as far south as you can - right to the bottom of England - you'll want to go just a little bit further. You can do much of the journey on the A3 - or the M3 then the M27, depending on where you're coming from. Portsmouth is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so there's no need for ferries or tunnels and it's easy to drive straight over. If you'd prefer a train, Portsmouth has five different stations. Your best bet is Portsmouth Harbour or Portsmouth & Southsea, both running lines to cities like Brighton, Bristol, Bath, Southampton and London.

"Hello Sailor!"

What they said about Portsmouth...