Grab the girls and hit up Galgorm Collection venues for the ultimate pre-wedding send-off before you head off into married life
After a couple of years of disruption, weddings are finally back – and they’re bigger and better than ever. And whilst it’s super exciting to start designing wedding invitations, planning the venue decorations and styling, and of course choosing your dream wedding dress, there’s one part of the wedding celebrations that mustn’t be forgotten – the hen party!
Gathering your closest girlfriends and bringing them together to celebrate your pending nuptials is a rite of passage for many brides – but where do you begin when starting to make the plans for your send-off into married life?
Galgorm Collection, Northern Ireland’s premier group of luxury hotels, bars and restaurants, has rounded up the best hen party destinations in Northern Ireland for you and your nearest and dearest friends to ‘kiss the miss goodbye’ this summer.
For your ‘final fling before the ring’ – whether you envision it as a glam night on the town, a relaxing pamper day at a spa, or a sophisticated afternoon tea – Galgorm Collection has you covered, because when waving goodbye to your single life, you deserve the absolute best.
Galgorm
136 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT42 1EA
(Hydrate & Glow Day Spa Experience including Thermal Spa Village access, 60-minute IMAGE Customised Facial and Lunch in Elements with a glass of prosecco available from £130pp)
Situated just 30 minutes from Belfast, is Northern Ireland’s premier hotel, Galgorm. Promising laid-back luxury and a world-class spa offering, there’s no better place to take time out with your girls, celebrate with a glass of fizz in a bubbling hot tub, and enjoy that much-deserved VIP pamper session ahead of your big day.
Choose from a variety of day spa packages, dining experiences, or overnight stays at Galgorm to make your hen an extra-special celebration, as all accommodation comes complete with full access to the renowned Thermal Village, the first outdoor spa of its kind on the island of Ireland and winner of Spa of the Year for Western Europe in the 2023 World Spa & Wellness Awards.
As you and your hens take the opportunity to relax and unwind, you can raise a glass to your big day ahead with a refreshing cocktail in the botanical surroundings of The Palm House, bathe in the depths of Galgorm’s iconic vitality pool, or relax on heated loungers as you think back on all your memories together and look ahead to the next exciting chapter of your life.
Alternatively, for a luxurious and refined experience, in the company of your loved ones, enjoy the elegant ritual of Afternoon Tea, in the splendid setting of The Conservatory at Galgorm. The indulgent Afternoon Tea experience at Galgorm offers your hen party guests a selection of finely cut sandwiches and savouries, freshly baked scones, and delicate miniature desserts, so that you can catch up on your wedding plans over a pot of freshly brewed tea and take in the beautiful surroundings of the cascading River Maine. Galgorm’s creative team of chefs update the Afternoon Tea in keeping with the seasons, with the newly-launched Summer Afternoon Tea Menu boasting a variety of fresh, seasonal produce to surprise and delight your hen party guests.
For that ultimate rest and relaxation ahead of your big day, you can also add a luxurious and bespoke spa treatment to your hen party plans, such as a relaxing Galgorm massage, a tension-relieving Detox Therapy session, or a radiant customised facial, helping to get your skin ready ahead of your big day.
Or why not go all out for your last hurrah and book an overnight stay with the group in Galgorm’s striking Linen Merchant’s Residence, which has its very own outdoor hot tub and BBQ facilities, where you can pop open a bottle of bubbly, cosy down for the evening, and make a toast to the bride-to-be.
To book, phone 028 2588 1001, email reservations@galgorm.com or visit Galgorm.com
The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat
882 Antrim Road, Templepatrick, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim, BT39 0AH
(Explore Day Spa Packages from just £79pp)
Further into the heart of County Antrim sits The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat – the region’s newest attraction located just 10 minutes from Belfast International Airport which is the perfect place for a hen party less ordinary.
Named in the Irish Independent’s ‘FAB 50’ Top Stays in Ireland 2021 and the AA Hospitality Awards’ Hotel of the Year 2022 for Northern Ireland, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat comes with all the luxuries you would expect from Galgorm Collection, with a few quirks along the way to make your hen party one to remember.
Take your girls to the beach to enjoy iconic Balearic vibes, as the Rabbit is home to Ireland’s only heated lakeside pebble beach, and features a Roman bath complete with swim up seating – so you can channel an Ibizan hen do, without the flight! Under the lights of The Rabbit’s disco ball in Ireland’s most ‘Instagrammable’ spa, relax in the warm waters before you retreat to the comfort of a relaxing lakeside cabana to sip on your favourite tipple, whilst chilling out to party tunes as the sun sets and the outdoor spa lights up the night.
Then gather up your bridal party to ease away the tensions of wedding planning as you take a dip in one of the toasty outdoor hot tubs or enjoy a stint in the sauna. Enjoy the views of the lake for a moment of me-time that will leave you feeling rejuvenated ahead of your big day, before enjoying a bespoke spa treatment, ranging from the invigorating Duo Clay Ritual and the 60-minute pomegranate body scrub treatment, to an IMAGE personalised facial that will give you the perfect pre-wedding glow.
Following your pamper session in The Rabbit Spa, you and your hens can retreat to The Rabbit Restaurant, to enjoy an unforgettable dining experience coupled with creative drinks and quirky cocktails including the iconic ‘Jessica Rabbit.’ Then don your dancing shoes for a boogie with your besties as you dance the night away to live entertainment in Hunter’s Bar, before retiring to The Rabbit’s seriously comfortable bedrooms ahead of a hearty breakfast the next morning, to carry on the pre-wedding celebrations.
To book, phone 028 9443 2984, email stay@rabbithotel.com or visit rabbithotel.com
Parisien Belfast
Cleaver House, 56 Donegall Pl, Belfast BT1 5GA
(Enjoy brunch plates and drinks at Parisien’s Bottomless Brunch for only £45.00 pp)
For the perfect way to kickstart your send-off into married life, enjoy a boujee Bottomless Brunch at Belfast’s chicest restaurant, Parisien. This French-inspired city favourite will bring that ‘je ne sais quoi’ to your hen party celebrations, as you soak up the sophisticated ambience and décor of this cosmopolitan destination.
Get glammed up with your girlfriends for a decadent dining experience, and as you feast on the finest brunch dishes with a classic French twist, and sip on expertly made cocktails, or a classic glass of bubbles, you can also drink in the ‘insta-worthy’ and panoramic views of the iconic Belfast City Hall, thanks to the twinkling outdoor terrace overlooking the busy cityscape of the streets below.
Choose from a range of sumptuous dishes including smashed avocado and whipped feta, creamy mushrooms on toast, or a traditional cooked breakfast, all washed down with a delectable assortment of bottomless drinks including Brambles, Mimosas, Cosmpolitans, and Bloody Marys, before you head into the city for a day of shopping or further hen-party plans with your best girlfriends.
To book, phone 028 9590 4338, email info@cafeparisienbelfast.com or visit cafeparisienbelfast.com
Fratelli Belfast
Unit 1, 60 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7BB
(Cocktail-making masterclass available Saturdays 12.00pm – 3.30pm for £45pp)
Fratelli Ristorante, Pizzeria & Bar in Belfast offers an unrivalled city centre dining experience, with an extensive menu of Italian dishes with a modern twist for you and your friends to dine in style. The perfect place to kick off your hen party night out, with a selection of fresh, local seafood and meat, hearty pizzas and delicious pastas, Belfast’s favourite Italian restaurant will please even the fussiest of hens!
As you sit on the twinkling and atmosphere balcony that overlooks the bustling Great Victoria Street, you and your girlfriends can sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city that surround you as you toast to your voyage into married life.
Or for an extra-special way to mark the occasion of your last night of freedom, enjoy Fratelli’s new and dynamic cocktail masterclass, where you and your crew will enjoy a glass of fizz on arrival before spending the next 90 minutes participating in a lively demonstration by Fratelli’s in-house mixologists on how to master the perfect summer cocktails.
Once the demo ends, the fun certainly does not, as it’s then time to enjoy your masterpiece in the charming Fratelli restaurant and indulge in an array of authentic Italian nibbles, including freshly prepared cicchetti and an indulgent selection of bread – to fuel up for your night ahead painting the town red hen-party style!
To book, phone 028 9031 0862, email info@fratellibelfast.com or visit fratellibelfast.com
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