My Derby Hen Weekend: A Real Bride's Review

Editor's Note (December 2025): This real story from a past bride has been updated to ensure all travel tips and activity details are current for the 2025 season.

We went on a Derby hen weekend back in 2019 to celebrate my best friend’s forthcoming wedding. Derby is about two hours away from where we all live, so it was a great pick as it’s the perfect distance away that we don’t go there regularly.

We wanted somewhere lively where we could let our hair down without bumping into people we knew! Here is exactly what we got up to.

Friday: Cocktails & Cheesy Clubs

We met up at our local pub for an early lunch to get the introductions out of the way before bundling into cars. There were definitely some bottles of Prosecco being passed around inside the cars as "in-flight entertainment"!

We went straight to our hotel and were amazed by the quality. Considering the budget, we were expecting a Travelodge, but we were in a beautiful 4-star hotel right in the centre of Derby!

Cocktail Making Masterclass

We were raring to go, so we headed to our first activity: a **Cocktail Making Masterclass** at 4 pm. We all got the chance to make three cocktails under the supervision of a professional mixologist. We played loads of games and faced challenges set by the host—it was interactive and had everyone in hysterics.

We followed this with a three-course meal in the same venue to soak up the alcohol. The food was surprisingly tasty with great vegan options. We stayed for more drinks (mostly weird flavoured vodka shots!) before ending the night in one of Derby’s cheesiest nightclubs, dancing to 80s and 90s hits until 3 am.

Saturday: Nude Life Drawing

Saturday morning was a write-off! We decided against the hotel breakfast and opted for a much-needed early lunch at a nearby café instead.

Our main activity was chosen specifically for the hen, who loves art: **Nude Life Drawing**. For those who enjoy art, it was great fun. For those who don't (like my friends Lucinda and Kelly), it was a chance to drink Prosecco and stare at a naked man!

We were hoping for a bronzed Adonis, and we were not disappointed! "Jack" came in wearing only a towel, and there were definitely a few giggles. The hen drew an amazing picture, while Kelly drew a stick figure... but as she said, "everyone's a critic!"

Saturday Night: The Big Night Out

We decided against a big sit-down meal for Saturday night, grabbing sandwiches on the way back to the hotel instead so we could focus on getting ready.

We headed to a posh bar for pre-drinks before moving on to a huge Derby nightclub. This club had three rooms playing different music, which was much better than the cheesy club from the night before. We had an amazing time, with a lot of dancing and daring each other. There are so many stories I could tell from that night, but what happens in Derby stays in Derby!

The Verdict

Our Derby hen do was an absolutely amazing experience. It was well organised, affordable, and the perfect mix of activities and nightlife. Derby is definitely a great place for a hen do—we’ll remember it forever!

The Stag and Hen Experience has been creating bespoke weekends since 2009. If you want to replicate this itinerary, get in touch on 01202 566100 or browse our Derby Hen Packages to start planning.