Ideas for hen weekend

[iwouldgoouttonight]

I'm trying to organise a hen weekend for a friend - she wants it to be a surprise but has given me the following things she'd like to include:

-two nights somewhere in UK (ideally no more than two hours drive from the midlands)
-somewhere that will accomodate 15-20 people
-a couple of activities to do in the day, eg, quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, beauty treatments
-near to a town/city so we can go out one evening

I've never organised a hen weekend before (to be honest I hate them!!) so no idea where to start. I've done a search but so far only come up with quite expensive places (they work out about £150-£200 per person for two nights plus whatever it costs to do activities, eat out, drink, etc). I'd like to find somewhere else a bit cheaper so I can give everyone some options (and be able to afford to go myself!)

Can anyone help with ideas?

Have a look at the Hilton website. They do weekend deals inc dinner on the first night, starting at £99 per person, and they will def have hotels across the midlands inc ones with pools/spas.

Other sites I have used when plotting hen nights:

octopus.com

expedia

superbreak

tripadvisor.

Use the first three to put in your wants and narrow down hotels at the price you are looking for, and then use tripadvisor to weed out the really rubbish ones.

If I were you I would concentrate on finding a place with pool/gym and beauty treatments. A lot of people HATE the idea of quad biking etc, and these activities are v expensive. Find somewhere that offers beuaty treatments and is a good deal, and sell it to your mate, explaining that the other activities are jsut SOOO expensive. Find a hotel in a city and people can go shopping/site seeing instead, which can be free if you want it to be.

PLease don't go to blackpool. Tis such a cliche and awful too
(apologies to anyone living in blackpool but I just can't love it for some unknown reason)

since you're organising it why don't you make it a hen DAY rather than a weekend! EVERYONE will thank you for it and be glad to save their money for better things

though notyummy's idea sounds good if you really have to make it a weekend

Thanks - I've been on a hen weekend in Blackpool and I can categorically say it was the worst weekend of my life (again apologies to anyone living in Blackpool - Blackpool itself was fine - its just the hoards of screaming scantily clad women and leering men on hen/stag nights doesn't do it for me!)

Notyummy - good ideas, I can't see that everyone will want to do quad biking type things either, for example I know there will be a 70 year old and at least one pregnant woman!

Ooh, if it was up to me we'd just go out for a nice meal and that'd be it!!

god why can't people just go to the pub or a nice meal ..what's with this all weekend malarky!

Don't get me started! I don't get why it has to be a whole weekend either - my friend is quite well off and I think she forgets we're not all in the same boat. I think in total going to the hen weekend and wedding, including staying in hotel for wedding and DP's lost earnings will cost us over a grand (that's why we can't afford to go on holiday this year - although can't tell friend that, she's a close friend and I obviously can't not go to her wedding or hen party!)

That's why I'm trying to come up with some cheaper options - I was wondering about hiring a cottage or something but not sure if they tend to be near to towns/cities.

Nottingham Hilton would be around £85 each for 2 nights bed and breakfast, inc dinner on the first night. Has a pool/gym. Haven't stayed there, so don't know what its like. Nottingham itslef is alright...the shoppings good, and there are plenty of good bars and eateries. Its not particularly scenic, buts its ok.