Canal Street, Manchester - Hen Party?

MentalMinnie

I'm having my hen party in Manchester at the end of April. I'd originally planned for a day time activity, then a meal then bars/club. I was planning it all around Canal Street, under the impression that it was a good night out...i've since read that the bars etc are very unwelcoming to Hen's and they don't particularly like parties. Has anyone had experience? And maybe point me to a better part of Manchester instead? x

elvis86

MentalMinnie wrote: »

I'm having my hen party in Manchester at the end of April. I'd originally planned for a day time activity, then a meal then bars/club. I was planning it all around Canal Street, under the impression that it was a good night out...i've since read that the bars etc are very unwelcoming to Hen's and they don't particularly like parties. Has anyone had experience? And maybe point me to a better part of Manchester instead? x

Most venues on Canal Street/in the village are reluctant to let big groups of girls in. But the village can be a good night out for a hen party, I just think it depends what kind of party yours will be.

If you're a big gang of loud girls in tutus, all off your faces and acting like you've never been out of your village before let alone met a gay person, and generally making other people feel uncomfortable - you probably will find it hard to get in places.

But providing you're not being obnoxious and aren't interpreted as a gang who are going to disturb other people, I'm sure that there are places that you will get into. Aside from men-only venues, there are a few places that are notoriously picky about groups of girls (eg Thompsons), but others will be fine I should imagine.

If you want to explore other areas, Deansgate Locks is a parade of a few bars, and the Printworks is a complex of several bars, though these can be a bit rough for my liking (I'm a bit adverse to heteros though, so it could just be that!).

Or the other main drinking area is the Northern Quarter which is full of quirky bars and Bohemian types. I'd definitely go for a wander here even if not on the evening, as there are some really cool shops and cafes.:)

MentalMinnie

Theres about 12-15 of us going, but I've got a feeling that the stigma of being a hen party will mean that even with our best intentions etc we'll still get turned away. Thinking of avoiding it altogether, which is a shame. I wanted to go there as i'd been told it was a safe environment. Think i'll look at Deansgate...

MentalMinnie

Wonbder if one of those 'party buses' are a good idea? Best bit of central Manc if you see what i mean?

lollipop80

Although there are a lot of hen parties in the village, I have seen places turn down large groups.

Have you thought about The Birdcage? Its near quite a few bars/restaurants so you could go for drinks/meal beforehand, and then finish your night in there. Its a cabaret bar, and they are very welcoming for hen parties.

SplanK

I went for my stag do in Manc and we were made to feel very unwelcome in most places... although we had booked a meal at Tiger Tiger anad managed to get stamps so not all was lost! Actualy, the food and service we got at Tiger Tiger was very good and worth the money... and it was not even that expensive!

Not sure if it will be any different for hen do's though. But we were a group of 8, but not the usual loud mob of guys, and I got speaking to a few of the bouncers and they simply dont let large groups in. They even clocked us trying to split up!

trinity_enigma

Probably slightly different for us as it was during gay pride but I went on a joint hen weekend with two of my lovely gay friends. There were about eight of us ranging in age from about 25-45 one of them was a man and the rest ladies. We were all dressed in black at the hens request and they provided us with sashes.

None of the clubs would let us in. The bars were fine but the clubs apparently had a policy that refused entry to hen and stag parties. Unfortunately it put a real downer on the evening as they basically felt really rejected. They probably won't be quite so strict away from what was probably their busiest weekend of the year!

itsjojustjo

Actually I went to a hen party then two of us broke off to go down canal street, we were made to take our sashes off as it 'lowered the tone' even though we were in very classy outfits just happened to still have purple sash on.


I would reccommend Efes on princess street, there were a few hen partys on the go which added to a great atmosphere, I am toying with either there or the birdcage, which again realise the money making potential of hens

RainbowDrops

Canal Street is the Gay night spot, so I can see why they wouldn't want hen parties there.

MentalMinnie

I've decided to stay away from Canal St, heading to Deansgate Lock instead. Just wondered if people could recommend some nightclubs? Had a look at the Birdcage, not sure if it's my cup of tea. I want somewhere that plays chart dance music, isn't hardcore, and that I can book a seating area.

stclair

MentalMinnie wrote: »

I'm having my hen party in Manchester at the end of April. I'd originally planned for a day time activity, then a meal then bars/club. I was planning it all around Canal Street, under the impression that it was a good night out...i've since read that the bars etc are very unwelcoming to Hen's and they don't particularly like parties. Has anyone had experience? And maybe point me to a better part of Manchester instead? x

Canal street is not really fond of hen parties.

You might get into Churchills, Via Fossa and The New Union other than that youll find yourself being turned away from most places....