My Portsmouth Hen Do: A Real Maid of Honour's Review

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

Planning a hen do for my best friend was both an honour and a privilege. She’s a lady who knows what she wants, but she wanted a surprise!

She loves being on the coast, and most of us live along the south coast. Once we had ruled out everyone’s home towns, a **Portsmouth Hen Do** was an obvious choice. Close enough to most of us that it wasn’t a huge trip, but far enough away so that what happened in Portsmouth stayed in Portsmouth.

Friday: Cocktails & Clubbing

On a sunny Friday afternoon, I picked up Kelly (the hen) and we headed off. We arrived at our hotel, which was a centrally located, modern chain hotel that had been an absolute bargain.

We’re not really a group who are into physical or challenging activities; we prefer to get straight to the booze! That’s why we found ourselves in a popular cocktail bar for a **Cocktail Making Masterclass**.

This was a great success. Everyone learned how to make the basics, and the very cute barman showed us some technical skills. Coupled with the included meal, we were happy, fed, and watered.

After that, we did a tour of the local bars. We spent a little time in a cheap chain pub where several pitchers of cocktails were ordered, before heading off to some slightly more upmarket bars. We had **Nightclub Entry** pre-arranged for the Friday night as well, which meant we didn’t have to wait in the street for hours on end.

Saturday: Private Yacht Experience

The haze lifted the next morning when we all woke up in the hotel. By the time we had finished eating breakfast at a nearby café, it was nearly midday and time for our Saturday activity.

I was particularly proud of this one. Knowing Kelly loves the sea, I booked us a session on a **Private Yacht**. When she found out, she was ecstatic.

We were welcomed on board by friendly staff, and pretty soon we all had a glass of bubbly in our hands as we cruised the ocean waves. We were lucky to have amazing weather, and it was genuinely one of the most relaxing afternoons I have ever spent in my life.

Saturday Night: Cheesy Tunes

After a nice dinner at a local restaurant, we got dolled up and went out again. Rather than hitting a huge number of places like the night before, we found a bar we enjoyed and settled down, drinking our way through their cocktail menu.

Unlike the night before, where we’d gone to a popular nightclub, we decided to embrace our own ridiculousness and head to a **Cheesy 80s/90s Club**. We danced like absolute nutters and drank some cheap and nasty shots that tasted a little bit like fruity petrol—but they had the desired effect!

The Verdict

Kelly told me on the drive home that this had been the best weekend of her life, and that we should do a girls' weekend in Portsmouth every year!

The Stag and Hen Experience has been creating bespoke weekends since 2009. If you want to replicate this itinerary, or find out more get in touch on Portsmouth Hen 01202 566100 or browse our guide for more inspiration.