Football, Groovy Wonderland, Pure Comedy and A Busy May

It has been a busy old week in the life of Stag and Hen Manchester since we last updated our blog. Highlights included a invite to see how the other half live in a corporate box at Manchester City V Everton, attended the launch of Groovy Wonderland Tiger Tiger's new Friday night party for stags and hens and finally headed to the launch of Pure nightclubs comedy club. Throw into the mix a numbers of confirmed stag and hen parties booked for May and you easily lose a week like that.

So the football well put simply the city is split into two separate halves Blue (Manchester City) and Red (Manchester United) and so I donned a light blue scarf and posh shoes and headed to East Stand Corporate Box 19 for an evening as a guest of Draf Engineering a local firm. The food and drink were fabulous the result was not. Still it gave weight to our plan to introduce football tickets both normal and corporate to both Manchester City and Manchester united from next season. Keep your eyes peeled on our website, twitter and facebook feeds for more information when we release it.

For Manchester Hen Weekends normally we would always suggest a night at the Manchester Birdcage that mecca for visiting hen parties but now Tiger Tiger in the Printworks have come up with a more than equal alternative for a bit of retro fun on a Friday night. Groovy Wonderland in a private room with glitterball, multicoloured flashing dance floor, groovy chicks roller skating around, stilt walkers and cocktails galore served in hollowed out fruit. My favourite being a hollowed out watermelon!! We posted some pictures and a small video on Facebook but they didn't even do it justice it is great fun. Again I am awaiting final details to release to the website and hope they will come soon.

Then after a bit of Groovy Wonderland it was off to Pure Comedy Club for a spot of giggles followed by late night clubbing. Pure Manchester's only city centre superclub with over 2000 people hitting the club on a Saturday night out are now doubling the value for money by offering a comedy show with club entrance from only £10 per person and with the quality of local comedians I experienced on opening night and buckets of 5 beers at only £12 I can safely tell you that if you eat early and fancy something different it is definitely the way to do comedy and Pure whilst on your Manchester Stag Party or Manchester hen night.

Then suddenly this week we have had bookings galore for May and am thrilled to have sorted out two stag parties and one hen party since the weekend! So if you were planning a Manchester stag night or Manchester hen party in May get a move on accommodation is getting harder to find!

Signing off for Now Mike at Stag and Hen Manchester

Stag and Hen Manchester Illusions Magic Bar VIP Opening

The Stag and Hen Manchester team accepted an invite to go to the grand VIP opening of Illusions Magic Bar last night and thought that we would twin it with a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe to celebrate Sharon our hen expert’s birthday.

We booked a table at 7.15pm at the Hard Rock Cafe Manchester and when we arrived were greeted by the friendly staff and immediately taken to our own booth and given menus to choose what we having. We opted to wait until after the meal to have some of their legendary cocktails and instead opted for a cheeky pink number from their wine list to go with our food. To start with we shared some Tupelo Chicken Tenders for mains Sharon went for Caesar Salad and Grilled Shrimp and I went for the Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork sandwich and then we evened squeezed in a desert Creme Brulee for Sharon and I opted for the strawberry cheesecake. Everything was top notch and we stuffed ourselves!

The restaurant’s popularity shone through as even on a Tuesday night it was bustling with people throughout the course of our meal and the friendly team were very attentive to sort out everyone’s need no matter how big or small the group. There was an atmosphere with rock music on in the background but the important thing is that you can still hear each other talk. They have the mix just right at the Manchester Hard Rock Cafe.

We finished up our meal and then headed down to the legendary Hard Rock Cafe Manchester cocktail bar where Luke whipped us up an Electric Long Island Iced Tea (one for the stags) and a Raspberry Prosecco (one for the hens). Luke is one of the bar tenders that will be doing some of our cocktail masterclasses and that is because he knows his stuff and hens he isn’t bad to look at!! Both stag cocktail masterclasses and hen cocktail masterclasses are available at the Hard Rock Cafe right through from midday to midnight if needs be and prices start from just £35 per person for 2 hours of mixing fun!

Following our meal we headed around the corner in the Printworks to Illusions Magic bar where after a few weeks of soft opening they had rolled out the red carpet and were having a grand opening. Stag and Hen Manchester always enjoy a trip into Illusions Magic Bar as the cocktails are superb and thanks to our special exclusive deal are 2-4-1 with wristbands we will organise and the magic always leaves us open mouthed. Misdirection is the name of the game and no matter how hard we try we never see the slight of hand it is truly amazing.

It is a brilliant and ultimately different venue as it is one of only two branded magic bars in the entirety of the United Kingdom and on a Manchester Stag Weekend or Manchester Hen Weekend you can experience it for hardly any money at all. Entrance is free and we will give your discount drink wristbands for free aswell all you need do is tag it onto your enquiry that you send us , it is that simple.

Once you have a drink you can sit at the “Magic Bar” where magicians will do shows from 7pm onwards throughout the night and once you have finished with the magic why not try the acoustic guitar or piano live music that is played on a Friday and Saturday night and all before you pop next door for the Manchester clubbing experience at Pure or across the road to the Birdcage. In Manchester stag nights and hen nights out are that easy!!

Check out our website for Illusions Magic Bar for hens and Illusions Magic Bar for stags and then check out our Youtube, Facebook and Twitter pages for photos , videos and updates from last night. Why not follow us or become a fan!

Watch out for our next blog following a visit to the Blue footballing half of the city as Stag and Hen Manchester head to a corporate box for tonight’s big game Manchester City against Everton.

Regards the Stag and Hen Manchester Team

Our Day at the Vincent Hotel Wedding Fayre March 21st 2010

Sunday March 21^st March brought Stag and Hen Manchester’s 4^th wedding fayre of the season at the Vincent Hotel Wedding Fayre in Southport. From 12 midday to 4pm we spent the afternoon helping all your stags and hens and encountered everything from a groom who was passing our details on to his best man in Australia who was struggling to get something organised to ­­­­a lovely group of bridesmaids who were at pains to shoo the bride away when talking to Mike about plans for the Hen Do.

The day started brightly and we enjoyed meeting friendly faces from the Crosby Cake Company where Sharon snaffled a rather delicious bit of white Belgian chocolate cake. The view directly across to the 15 wedding cakes all afternoon was a killer though and had us both salivating!! We also had the pleasure of flawless hair and bridal make up and linzi next to us on the stand who also did the make up and hair for the two bridal catwalks. Then on the other side of us were the hosts The Vincent Hotel themselves and the lovely team there.

Straight from opening time at midday we were delighted to see a steady stream of brides and grooms mainly with some bridesmaids and best men coming to see us with some queries. A lot of those with weddings this year were asking specific questions particularly hens about the mecca that is the Manchester Birdcage for that Manchester Hen night out and stags this time it was a lot of questions about Manchester Karting which we were happy to help with.

Those with weddings a few years off were eager to start their stag and hen planning early and were over the moon to hear about our Facebook and Twitter special offer available at http://www.stagandhenmanchester.co.uk/special-offers.html . They really felt like they could keep in touch with all things Stags and Hens in Manchester without feeling pushed into booking.

We ran our usual competition for our bottle of pink bubbly and congratulations to the stunning Jennifer Edwards who became our winner and was presented the bottle by Mike. She said she was thrilled and planning to go home and have further wedding planning session with a little liquid refreshment.

Check out all our photos and videos from the day at our Facebook site and brand new YouTube channel – why not subscribe for regular updates and all things Stag and Hen in Manchester.

Next up for Stag and Hen Manchester is a trip to the races in Wolverhampton for our penultimate wedding fayre of the season on the 25^th April so if you are in the area we look forward to seeing you there!!

Regards the Stag and Hen Manchester team

Wedding Fayre The Vincent Hotel Southport

Wedding Fayre The Vincent Hotel Southport - Sunday 21st March 2010

It’s another wedding fayre this Sunday for Stag and Hen Manchester – this time at The Vincent Hotel wedding fayreon the iconic Lord Street in Southport. This is another opportunity for you brides and grooms to come and talk to us about your stag party Manchester and hen party Manchester. We know your thoughts are focused primarily on your big day but don’t forget your stag and hen parties – they deserve some thought too!

Manchester is far enough away from Southport to make it an easy journey to get to but also somewhere different for a very special Manchester stag weekend and Manchester hen party. There is plenty of stag and hen accommodation in Manchester to choose from to suit all budgets from 3* through to 4* apartment hotels to 5* luxury.

At Stag and Hen Manchester we are constantly on the lookout for new and exciting things for you party loving stags and hens. This season the most popular activity for your hen party in Manchester is definitely the cocktail masterclass Manchester. Each hen gets a chance to go behind the bar and have a go at mixing a cocktail for the other hens to try and don’t be afraid to try the fancy moves with the mixer that the experts make look so easy – trust me we’ve all discovered it’s not that easy! And then you finish your 2 hour cocktail making session with a delicious light buffet.

Now judging by your bookings it seems that you stags are definitely up for an evening at a lapdancing club on your stag party Manchester and we have just the one for you – Silks Gentleman’s Club Manchester with its sumptuous surroundings and its delectable ladies all ready to perform exciting dances just for you stags! With floor to ceiling mirrors behind the stage you won’t know where to look guys and the extensive drinks menu is second to none at prices that won’t hurt your wallets.

With a whole load of other activities to fill your weekend from a Manchester tubing party on the real snow slopes at Chill Factor to an afternoon racing at Manchester karting, from an afternoon trying your luck out at our Manchester casino to a Manchester spa day the choice is yours for a perfect Stag party Manchester and hen party Manchester.

So don’t forget to look out for us at the wedding fayre at The Vincent Hotel Southport – it starts at 12 noon with fabulous cat walk shows at 1pm and 3pm – don’t miss it! We’ll be waiting to talk to you and share the secrets of Manchester!

Live Music at the Hard Rock Cafe Manchester

Stag and Hen Manchester were thrilled to have a VIP invite to a charity live music gig at the Hard Rock Cafe Manchester for the evening of the 18^th March 2010. On the set list were the South African superstar Arno Carstens who flew off after finishing back to South Africa to prepare for the performances he has scheduled for the 2010 World Cup and James Walsh of Star Sailor fame who had once famously clashed with those legendary Manchester Rockers Oasis.

I was the only member of the Stag and Hen Manchester Team who was available to head to the gig but he was more than delighted to go and represent the team. The charity that money was being raised for was Bombay Teen Challenge which brings light and new life to women used in prostitution and their children in Mumbai, India. On top of a new wristband purchased on behalf of the charity I also put a bid in for a draw for a guitar signed by the whole of the Stereophonics which I unfortunately didn’t win but there is always next time. Manchester Radio station XFM also provided some music in between sets and recorded the gig for playing out at a later date.

The Hard Rock is well used to live music events as every Friday is Live Music night and this evening was no exception. With the now normal exceptional buffet of tortilla, salsa, mini burgers, mini cheeseburgers and expertly well cooked Southern Fried Chicken came the normal brilliant cocktails and friendly helpful service from the entire team at the venue. Special thanks to David and Luke! The view from the VIP balcony added to the evening and all the photos and videos are now added to our Facebook page with one added below to give you a sneaky peak!

Remember the Hard Rock Cafe Manchester is available for cocktail masterclasses in Manchester and special stag and hen food packages to make catering on your Manchester Stag night or Manchester Hen night stress free and delicious.

Mike at Stag and Hen Manchester

Dont Miss the Boat for Your Stag and Hen Weekends in Manchester

You've been asked by the bride or groom to organise the hen party or the stag night but the wedding is months ahead yet so you imagine there's plenty of time. Well with Manchester becoming an ever more popular destination for stags and hens you need to get organised now to make the most of that all important stag weekend Manchester or a Hen party Manchester.

Everyone has different ideas about the best way to celebrate the bride and groom's last night of freedom so girls you need to get together with a few bottles of wine and stags you need to start the discussion off the next time you're all in the pub to sound out everyone about what they want to do. One thing you can be sure about there won't be a shortage of suggestions! And you have to decide on a date that'll suit everyone- perhaps not as easy as it sounds....

Well let me share some hints with you about how to get the best out of a Manchester stag weekend and Hen weekend Manchester.

First of all try to avoid weekends when Manchester United are playing at home because you can guarantee that you'll pay more for any hotel rooms you can get your hands on and they almost certainly won't be city centre rooms.

It might also be worth while looking at which bands are playing at the MEN because there is also high demand for rooms those nights too. And definitely avoid the week in September of the Labour Party conference!

All of our stag accommodation Manchester and hen accommodation Manchester is city centre based so that you can walk to all the great nightlife venues on offer.
With accommodation from 3* hotels to 4* apartment hotels and 5* hotels we have something to suit all budgets.

Now if you fancy a cheesy Saturday night at the hen party mecca of The Birdcage Manchester then we recommend you book up to 3 months in advance of your hen party Manchester to guarantee a table near the stage so you can get a good view of the Las Vegas style stage shows.

And if you're after a Karting Manchester session then the best one to opt for is the one that starts at 1 o clock- that means you don't have to get up early and you're free from 4 o clock to make the most of your night on the town acquainting yourselves with all the bars and clubs in Manchester. But don't wait too long to make your booking as this session is by far the most popular and gets taken early on.

So the message to all you stags and hens is don't put off too long to get your fellow party goers committed to your plans or you may find that you can't book exactly what you want when you want to do it and you may have to pay over the odds for hotel accommodation.

So if you need any advice about what to do on your stag weekends Manchester and hen weekends in Manchester or help with bookings then get in touch with us either by completing the contact us page or the Build Your Own Form on the website or by giving us a call - we're here in Manchester to help with our detailed on the spot knowledge.

Manchester - A safe place for stags and hens

Awarded by the Association of Town Centre Management, Manchester has become one of only 6 cities in the UK and the only one in the north to be presented with a safe nightlife award "The Purple Flag" accreditation for a better night out. Judges visited the city in December and were impressed with how well managed and clean the concentrated and well known areas of nightlife were at The Printworks, Peter Street, The Gay Village and Deansgate Locks were. They also commented on their cosmopolitan and safe feel. Another plus mentionned being the Taxi Marshall scheme employed at six ranks in the town centre to help all you stags and hens get home from the big night of your Manchester Stag Weekend or Manchester Hen Weekend.

Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesperson for Manchester city Council said: "Manchester is widely regarded both nationally and internationally as a fantastic city for nightlife. This accolade is further welcome acknowledgement that we lead the way when it comes to vibrant nights out with a huge choice of venues and a real buzz. We pride ourselves in providing people with a pleasant experience and ensuring the city remains clean and safe, so it's great to be one of the first places in the country to get this award."

Stag and Hen Manchester are proud to call the city our home and are thrilled that our range of Manchester Stag parties and Mancehster Hen parties have been further added to with this prestiguous award. Yet another reason to choose Manchester for that last night of partying before the big day. Why not join the 500,000 people a week that enjoy Manchester's nightlife across 650 bars, restaurants and clubs.

We give you group complimentary VIP Q Jump passes for a venue at Deansgate Locks or the Printworks for one night of your stay regardless of what you book with us to help you enjoy Manchester's nightlife and can advise on other places to go - Just ask us on booking, we are here to help.

Check out our other special offers including if you follow us on Twitter or Facebook we'll give you free of charge for each group booking with us one twin room for 2 people for 1 night of your stay (terms and conditions apply).

Midlands Stags and Hens - Pole position for Partying

Thank you to all you brides and grooms who came to talk to us at the Ramada Hotel Warwick yesterday- it was great to meet you and introduce you to what we can offer for your Manchester stag nights and hen party. Manchester is the place to be!!! We met a great Master of Ceremonies at the show- he had a very commanding presence and made Mike look positively short and Mike is 6ft!!!

It became apparent from talking to you hens that an important aspect of your Manchester hen nights is the wealth of bars and clubs Manchester has to offer. With our hen nightlife pass you can Q jump a number of these venues in both the exciting Deansgate Lock and Printworks areas of the city- you don’t want to waste valuable time in queues! And of course The Birdcage is a must for hen parties with its Las Vegas style shows with flamboyant drag queens and showgirls and music till the early hours – we all love a bit of cheese! With prices starting from £15 on Saturdays we can arrange for tickets with a reserved table for your party in front of the stage with drinks delivered to your table up till about 11.30pm.

For you grooms Manchester karting is the popular choice- we reckon you’re all budding Lewis Hamiltons!. We recommend a Grand Prix open session with up to 40 drivers lasting about 3 hours. You get practice laps followed by heat races of 5 laps with 2 finals of 12 laps for the fastest racers. All drivers get laptimes so you can work out who the slowest driver was so he can stand the first round of drinks ...........

But there’s so much more on offer for your stag weekend Manchester and your hen weekend Manchester whether it’s a weekend that’s energetic, adventure seeking, clubbing or just chilled out. Check out the activity pages on our website for details of all that’s on offer and then get in touch via our Build Your Own pages, our contact page or simply by picking up the phone and speaking to us direct- we’re here to help you plan you perfect hen and stag party.

Wedding Fayre Ramada Hotel Warwick

Well this Sunday sees the team from Stag and Hen Manchester heading off to Warwick for a wedding fayre at the Ramada Hotel Kenilworth. It starts at 11am so it’s a bit of an early start for us but all you brides and grooms are worth it!

Manchester is an easy journey for all you Midlands based people so hens why not think about having your hen parties in Manchester and stags come on organise a Manchester stag night.

Manchester is a very popular destination for stag and hen parties with loads of daytime activities and nightlife. If you’re looking for an adventure adrenalin filled weekend then look no further- check out the extreme activities on our site for Indoor Skydiving– the latest craze – or if you’ve enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics then have a go at Manchester snowboarding. And of course there are the good old favourites of Manchester karting and paintballing Manchester.

If you prefer something a little less energetic but just as much fun then take a look at what a Manchester casino can offer-you can learn how to play poker or try your luck at the tables and slots. How about a spot of golf? Well Manchester has a venue to play indoor golf – the Golftorium where you can play ony one of 53 courses but never be too far away from the bar – in fact drinks get delivered to your booth- what could be better?

Now for you hens that love to dance we can offer you anything from Burlesque dancing to Manchester cheerleading parties to poledancing lessons. And how about singing your favourite songs with some Manchester karaoke in your own private booth you don’t even have to go to the bar to get drinks – they’re brought to you in your party! Rather go for a bit of pampering then check out a Manchester spa day – go the whole hog andbook a mini pamper day at a 5* spa or for those of you on a lower budget have a look at the health club and spa where treatments start from £30.

But what about that all important night out o the town? For you hens THE place to go is The Birdcage with Las Vegas style shows throughout the evening from drag queens and showgirls and music till the early hours. Or get one of our nightlife passes that give you VIP Q Jump entry to a number of clubs in the best nightlife areas of the city.

And for you stags how about a gentleman’s club to watch some lovely ladies dance before going on to the numerous pubs and clubs dotted around the city. With a stag Q Jump pass you can get fastrack entry to any number of great venues.

So admit it - this really has wetted your appetite for a Manchester stag weekend or a hen weekend – Manchester has it all.

So head on down to the Ramada Hotel Warwick this Sunday and we’ll let you into all the secrets Manchester has to offer. We’ve got some bottles of Prosecco to give away this weekend so come and talk to us and don’t miss out.

If you follow us on Twitter or Facebook we’ll give you free of charge for each group booking with us one twin room for 2 people for 1 night of your stay (terms and conditions apply).

As the Winter Olympics come to a close keep the Golden feeling going with Stag and Hen Manchester

Been watching the Winter Olympics recently and sad they are coming to an end? Want to emulate our athletes efforts still and not sure how best to follow in Amy Williams footsteps? Well Stag and Hen Manchester are here to help keep that golden feeling going with a selection of Winter themed Manchester Stag and Hen activities.

Worry not Manchester can offer a selection of Winter themed Manchester Stag and Hen activities.

Situated only a short minibus ride away from your city centre stag accommodation or city centre hen accommodation in Manchester is the North West’s premier indoor snow centre The Chill Factor. Here both Stags and Hens can ski, snowboard , luge and go tubing and all for a very manageable cost.

With Manchester Skiing if you fancy yourself as a Chemmy Alcott and can already ski we have 90 minute lift passes available at only £25 or if you are like me and need a little tuition 45 minute learn to ski lessons are available on the smaller slope with a group of ten to each instructor again priced at £25. (if your numbers are under 10 sessions are non exclusive)

With Stag Snowboarding if the Snowboard cross is your level of snowboarding you can again opt for the 90 minute lift pass for the main slope or if you have been a skier and you want to try something new why not take a snowboard lesson on the smaller slope again with groups of ten being trained by one instructor for 45 minutes. (If your numbers are under 10 sessions are non exclusive)

Manchester Luging is the closest you will get to the Skeleton Bob that brought Amy Williams success and that involves sliding down a 60 metre ice slide at the side of the main slope. Each Manchester luging session is 45 minutes long and is for 16 people. ( Lower numbers will mean a non exclusive session) See which stag or hen can slide to the gold medal time!

The final option is the somewhat mad and mental Tubing- Ever gone on holiday and been towed behind a speed boat on a giant rubber ring. Right now picture that rubber ring at the top of a ski slope with you being pushed down the hill with no breaks and bam you have Manchester Tubing. This time the groups are 20 strong and again each session lasts for 45 minutes. (numbers under 20 will mean a non exclusive session)

So as you can see we can keep the Olympic spirit going so get in touch or simply follow us on Facebook and Twitter and we will help plan a Manchester Stag night or Manchester Hen nights to remember!!

Stag and Hen Manchester

Hilton Hotel Wedding Fayre February 28th 2010

Sunday February 28^th 2010 began with a nervous check of the curtains after last weekends snow at Chester Racecourse Wedding Fayre but the sun was shining and we set off to the Liverpool Hilton Hotel Wedding Fayre to see all you lovely Liverpool ladies and reluctant grooms (Everton and Liverpool were playing).

The new Hilton hotel next to Liverpool One was the venue for this wedding fayre and we arrived in plenty of time to set up before the 11 Oclock start. We were joined by photographers galore, specialist cake makers, table linen specialists and the fantastic classical soprano singer Amanda Hayes who kept us fully entertained all day when we weren’t speaking to all you stags and hens.

Although the destinations offered by Easyjet out of Liverpool were a popular choice there were still a lot of you that preferred to go British and head an hour away by train for a Manchester Stag Weekend or Manchester Hen Weekend. And we applaud you as the flights are never as cheap as they seem and you get a much better experience when you go British.

Popular choices for your hen parties in Manchester were the ever popular Manchester Birdcage, Manchester Spa Day and somewhat surprisingly Indoor Skydiving. You are obviously a city of adrenalin seekers!

Popular choices for stag parties in Manchester were lapdancing, Manchester clay pigeon shooting and Golftorium and we will look forward to sending proposals out to those stags that enquired.

Once again on offer was the special offer of joining us on Twitter or Facebook to receive a free twin room per Manchester hen party or Manchester stag party booked with us. (T&C's apply) So why not follow us up until the date of your wedding and then you will receive the latest updates and information and ideas as you run up to your big day.

Next up is the Ramada Hotel Warwick wedding fayre on Sunday March 7^th as we travel a little further a field to come and speak to you Stags and Hens in person and offer you some fantastic deals. It is all part of our continuing commitment to customer service and making your Stag and Hen Party as special as we can. After all you only do it once!

Stag and Hen Manchester