The Guide to Planning a Hen Party

Planning a hen party can feel like trying to stage-manage a West End show with a cast of enthusiastic amateurs. There’s excitement, expectation, and at least one person who will inevitably go missing at some point. But with a little thought and a touch of good taste, you can create a weekend that’s genuinely fun, stress-free, and worthy of the bride.

And yes, before you ask, there’s one place every modern hen party should begin: Sixes Social Cricket.

Start at Sixes Where the Fun Begins

Forget the inflatable flamingos and questionable scavenger hunts. The new era of hen parties is about laughter, good food, and experiences that feel a bit more fabulous. Sixes Social Cricket delivers exactly that.

Picture this, a sleek bar, brilliant food, cocktails that taste far too good, and a high-tech cricket experience that’s part sport, part comedy. You don’t need to know your overs from your innings to enjoy it. You simply pick up the bat, face the digital bowler, and swing like you mean it. Within minutes the whole group is howling with laughter as the bride-to-be takes her turn at the crease, cheered on by her nearest and dearest.

The real magic of Sixes lies in how effortlessly it combines playfulness with polish. You can compete, chat, and celebrate all in one stylish space, then collapse happily into your seats to enjoy cocktails and sharing platters in the restaurant. The menu is a thing of beauty: generous dishes, crowd-pleasing comfort food, and a drinks list that practically insists on a toast.

It’s lively, it’s social, and it feels far more special than another predictable night of neon tutus and sashes that read “Team Bride.” If you want to know how to plan a hen party that’s memorable for the right reasons, start at Sixes.

Choose a Setting That Matches the Bride

Once you’ve booked your cricket showdown at Sixes, everything else starts to fall into place. The key is to build the weekend around the bride herself. Does she want to party until sunrise or spend her days laughing over brunch and cocktails?

Sixes has venues in some of the best cities for a hen weekend: London, Brighton, Manchester, and Birmingham all make perfect bases. You can make a whole day of it — start with a batting session at Sixes, stay for lunch or dinner, then head out for rooftop drinks or dancing afterwards.

Keeping it close to one central hub makes the logistics blissfully simple. No herding half the group across town or losing people between taxis. You can relax, chat, and let the day unfold naturally.

Plan, But Don’t Over-Plan

The golden rule of a great hen party is balance. Structure is good; schedules are not. Plan a few key moments, then allow space for spontaneous laughter and a few surprises.

Start with Sixes as your lively opener, then maybe add something calm and indulgent later: a spa afternoon, a bottomless brunch, or simply time to unwind with wine and gossip. The trick is to keep the energy flowing without exhausting the group or turning the weekend into a military exercise.

A good hen weekend feels effortless — like everything’s fallen perfectly into place. Which, of course, it hasn’t, but that’s the secret of good planning.

Feed, Hydrate, Celebrate

A successful hen weekend runs on three things: food, drinks, and laughter. Sixes takes care of all three in one elegant swoop. The restaurant and bar serve food that’s both hearty and Instagram-worthy, with sharing platters that make conversation flow as easily as the prosecco.

Between games, you can settle in for a proper meal, toast the bride-to-be, and enjoy cocktails that are just the right mix of playful and potent. The beauty of Sixes is that it works for every mood — whether you’re celebrating in full sparkle or easing into a slow, relaxed evening.

Create Shared Memories (Not Chaos)

Gone are the days when hen parties were an endurance test. The modern bride wants connection, laughter, and stories she’ll actually want to tell. Activities that bring the group together — like the laughter-filled batting lanes at Sixes — do exactly that.

Within minutes you’ll see old friends and new faces cheering each other on, swapping phones for high-fives, and realising that competitiveness is surprisingly flattering in sequins. It’s the kind of bonding that happens naturally when everyone’s too busy laughing to check the time.

And best of all, it’s indoors, well-fed, and weatherproof. No one’s mascara will run, and no one needs to carry an emergency poncho.

Keep the Bride at the Heart of It All

It’s easy to get caught up in the group dynamic, but remember who this is really for. Every decision — from the timing to the tone — should make the bride feel celebrated. If she loves sport, embrace the competitive energy at Sixes. If she’s more into cocktails than cricket, use the restaurant and bar as your centrepiece and let the batting take a playful back seat.

You’re not just organising an event; you’re curating a memory. The best hen parties feel personal, relaxed, and just a little bit glamorous.

Add Some Gentle Mischief

A few light-hearted games or forfeits can add flavour to the festivities, as long as they stay fun and harmless. You might appoint a “champagne monitor” to ensure everyone’s glass is never empty, or a “team captain” responsible for leading the chants during cricket sessions at Sixes.

Keep it silly but kind. The aim is laughter, not embarrassment. No one wants the bride to end her night dressed as a flamingo because someone thought it would be funny.

End on a High Note

The perfect hen weekend doesn’t fade out; it finishes with warmth. End the celebration where it began — gathered around the table at Sixes, full of good food, laughter, and affection for the guest of honour.

Raise a glass to friendship, to the wedding ahead, and to the knowledge that you’ve pulled off something genuinely wonderful: a hen party that everyone will talk about for all the right reasons.

By the time dessert arrives, you’ll realise that you’ve done it. You’ve mastered the art of how to plan a hen party — a celebration that feels stylish, joyful, and completely free of stress.

The Final Word

Keep it simple, keep it joyful, and start with Sixes. It’s the perfect blend of laughter, food, competition, and comfort — the kind of place where the bride can celebrate surrounded by her best people, with no pressure and no plastic tiaras in sight.

Because the real secret to planning a perfect hen party isn’t grand gestures or endless organisation. It’s finding the place where everyone feels instantly happy, the drinks are cold, the food is excellent, and the only thing that matters is making memories together.

That place, as it happens, already exists. And it’s called Sixes.