So you’ve been handed the role of chief hen do organiser. The bride-to-be is based in Leeds, the group chat is already buzzing, and you need to come up with something that actually delivers. Before you start scrolling through the usual Leeds city centre options you’ve probably seen a hundred times, consider this: Blackpool is just over an hour away by car, one of the most talked-about nights out in the North of England is waiting there, and a Blackpool hen weekend gives the whole group something you genuinely can’t replicate in a local bar a proper trip.
Here’s what you need to know before you start planning.
Why Leeds Hen Parties Are Heading to Blackpool
Leeds has brilliant nightlife. Nobody’s arguing with that. But when it comes to a hen party, “brilliant nightlife” isn’t always enough. You want something the whole group will still be talking about at the wedding. That’s where Blackpool has a serious edge.
Blackpool is one of the UK’s most iconic seaside destinations, and for hen weekends from Yorkshire, it consistently ranks among the most popular choices. The combination of a coastal setting, affordable accommodation, buzzing bars, and a world-class cabaret scene makes it a complete package. You can plan the whole thing around a single Saturday, do it as an overnight stay, or turn it into a proper two-night break depending on your budget and group size.
The travel is easy too. A direct train with Northern Trains from Leeds takes just over two hours and services run throughout the day. By car, you’re looking at under an hour and a half along the M65 and M6. For a group of eight or more, splitting a minibus hire between everyone often works out cheaper than individual train tickets and means everyone travels together, which gets the party started earlier.
The Hen Night in Blackpool That Everyone’s Talking About
If there’s one experience in Blackpool that’s become almost synonymous with hen parties, it’s the show at Funny Girls. Based at 5 Dickson Road, just a short walk from Blackpool North station, this is a drag and cabaret venue that has been running since 1994 over 30 years of sequins, comedy, and high-kicking performances in a beautifully restored 1930s-style theatre.
It’s rated in the top 10% of attractions worldwide on TripAdvisor with more than 35,000 reviews, and has been voted the best night out in Blackpool for five years running. That’s not a marketing claim, that’s what happens when a venue genuinely delivers night after night.
The show runs from 8pm until around 11pm, with the cast performing choreographed routines every 20 minutes or so, and a DJ host keeping the crowd entertained in between. The finale runs for approximately 30 minutes. What makes it work for a hen party specifically is the energy, it’s loud, it’s funny, there’s audience interaction, and the performers are genuinely talented. Reviews consistently mention the cast, the choreography, and the fact that the atmosphere is welcoming to absolutely everyone, regardless of background.
One reviewer put it simply: “You don’t have to be gay to enjoy this show, just human with a sense of humour.”
What the Show Actually Looks Like
The venue runs seasonal shows throughout the year, so what you’ll see depends on when you visit. The current spring show, Blooming Queens, runs until 17th May 2026. The summer show, Hot Girl Summer, follows from 27th May through to 6th September 2026.
Each season brings a different theme, different costumes, and different set pieces which is part of why so many people return multiple times a year. The cast includes performers like Flexi Belle, Phoenix Knights, Sebastian, and Carmen, who also serves as DJ host on some nights. The format mixes traditional cabaret with contemporary drag, and the result lands well with mixed groups who might never have been to a drag show before.
How to Plan the Evening Around Funny Girls
The Dinner and Show Option
One of the best features for hen party groups is the pre-show dining option at Garbo’s, the art deco restaurant inside the venue. For £29.85 per person, you get a three-course meal served before the show begins. Doors to the restaurant open at 6.30pm, so arriving between then and 7.15pm gives you time to eat and settle in before the entertainment kicks off at 8pm.
Booking the meal alongside your tickets also saves up to 30% on the ticket price, which is genuinely useful when you’re organising a group. One venue, one payment, dinner and a show sorted.
Ticket Prices What to Budget
Regular ticket prices at Funny Girls run as follows:
- Standing: £10.00 on weekdays and Sundays / £12.50 on Fridays and Saturdays
- Ground Floor Seat: £23.50 on weekdays / £34.00 on Saturdays
- Dress Circle Front Seat: £21.00 on weekdays / £31.50 on Saturdays
- Dress Circle Rear Seat: £17.00 on weekdays / £27.50 on Saturdays
For a Saturday night hen party, a ground floor seat works out at £34 per head which is very reasonable for a night that runs until 11.30pm with table service included. Standing tickets at £12.50 on a Friday or Saturday are among the best-value options in Blackpool nightlife full stop.
Tickets are available 24/7 via the Funny Girls website, and the box office team can be reached on 01253 649150 during weekday hours if you prefer to sort a group booking over the phone.
Building the Rest of the Day Around the Show
One of the advantages of choosing Blackpool for a hen party trip from Leeds is that the town gives you a full day before the evening kicks off. Here’s a sensible timeline if you’re doing it as a day trip or overnight stay:
Getting there: Aim to arrive in Blackpool by midday. If you’re coming by train, you’ll arrive at Blackpool North, which is a five-minute walk from the beach and the main strip. If you’re driving, Blackpool has car parks throughout the town centre, with the NCP on Talbot Road particularly handy for groups heading to an evening show.
Afternoon: The Promenade is the obvious starting point. Blackpool Beach runs the full length of the seafront and the surrounding area includes Blackpool Tower (worth a visit for the ballroom and the viewing platform), beach bars, the Golden Mile of arcades, and the heritage tram that runs the full length of the coast. For groups who want something more structured before the evening, there are spa and beauty options in the town centre and plenty of cocktail bars for an afternoon drink.
Early evening: Head to Funny Girls at 6.30pm if you’ve booked the dinner package. The restaurant team seats your group together and the pre-show atmosphere in Garbo’s is warm and relaxed, a good way to settle in before the main event.
The show: Running from 8pm until 11.30pm, this is the centrepiece of the night. The DJ takes the floor from 8pm and the cast open at 8.30pm. After the grand finale at 11pm, the bars close and guests make their way out which puts you in a good position to continue the evening in Blackpool’s town centre if you want to, with bars and late-night venues all within easy walking distance of the Dickson Road venue.
Why This Works Better Than Staying in Leeds
Choosing a hen do destination away from home has a specific effect: it makes the whole event feel like an occasion. When you stay in your own city, it’s easier for people to drift off early, easier for the “I’ll just nip home for a bit” excuse to materialise, and harder to build that shared sense of being somewhere together for a reason.
A short trip to Blackpool changes that dynamic. The group is committed to the trip. Everyone travels together, stays together if you book accommodation, and the shared experience of the journey, the show, and the evening becomes the story the group tells at the wedding.
It’s also genuinely affordable. For groups travelling from Leeds on a budget, Blackpool hits a sweet spot that European hen weekends simply cannot match. No flights, no passports, no travel insurance to sort. You book a train or hire a minibus, get a round of tickets to the show, and the rest takes care of itself.
Practical Things to Sort Before You Go
A few logistics worth confirming well in advance:
- Book show tickets early, especially for a Saturday. Funny Girls sells out on weekend nights, and groups of eight or more should book as far ahead as possible to guarantee seating together.
- Book the restaurant separately if you want the dinner option. Meal bookings and menu selections need to be confirmed at least 48 hours before the show date.
- Check the show schedule on the Funny Girls website to confirm which seasonal show is running on your chosen date and that the venue is open that night.
- Sort accommodation if you’re staying overnight. Blackpool has a wide range of hotels along the seafront and within walking distance of the venue, across all price points.
- Plan the return journey before you leave Leeds. Direct trains back from Blackpool North run until the late evening, but the last services won’t wait check the Northern Trains timetable and book in advance to avoid paying peak prices on the day.
What Makes Funny Girls Right for a Hen Group
Hen parties work best when the experience caters to the whole group, not just a few people. That’s harder to achieve than it sounds. A busy nightclub might suit some members but leave others cold. A spa day is relaxing but lacks the drama and spectacle a proper hen night deserves. A sit-down dinner without entertainment loses the group energy by 9pm.
Funny Girls sits in an unusual sweet spot: it’s a full theatrical show with professional performers, but it also feels like a night out. The audience interaction, the DJ sets between performances, and the table service all make it social and spontaneous rather than stiff. Groups have reported going in with mixed expectations and leaving having laughed harder than they have in years.
It’s also worth noting that Funny Girls is welcoming by design. The venue has hosted everything from birthday dinners to stag and hen parties of all kinds, and the mix of audiences on any given night is part of what gives it such a good atmosphere. Nobody’s out of place, and the cast know exactly how to read a room.
For a group travelling from Leeds whether you know Blackpool well or have never been it’s a show and a venue that earns its 30-year reputation.
5 FAQs: Planning a Hen Party in Leeds with a Blackpool Trip
Q: How far is Blackpool from Leeds, and how do you get there?
Blackpool is approximately 73 miles from Leeds by road. Driving takes around one hour and 45 minutes, and a direct Northern Trains service from Leeds runs to Blackpool North in roughly two hours and five minutes, with services departing hourly throughout the day. Both options are straightforward, and a group minibus hire is worth considering for larger parties.
Q: Is Funny Girls suitable for a mixed hen party group with different tastes?
Yes. The show combines drag performances, choreographed dance, comedy, and audience interaction, and it works for a wide range of audiences. Reviews regularly note that the venue welcomes all ages and backgrounds. The format with regular intervals and a live DJ host in between keeps energy levels up and gives people time to chat and order drinks throughout the evening.
Q: Can you book a group table at Funny Girls for a hen party?
Group bookings are available through the Funny Girls website or by calling the box office on 01253 649150. The team works to seat groups together, even on busy Saturdays. Pre-show dinner in Garbo’s restaurant must be booked separately at least 48 hours before the show, with menu choices confirmed in advance.
Q: What does the Funny Girls dinner and show package include?
The dinner and show package costs £29.85 per person and includes a three-course meal served in Garbo’s, the art deco restaurant inside the venue. Dinner service begins at 6.30pm, with guests asked to arrive before 7.15pm. Booking the dinner package alongside tickets can save up to 30% on the standard admission price.
Q: Are there things to do in Blackpool during the day before a hen party evening show?
Yes, plenty. Blackpool offers a full day of options before an evening show, including Blackpool Tower, the beach and Promenade, the heritage tram along the Golden Mile, arcades, cocktail bars, spa and beauty treatments, and a wide range of restaurants in the town centre. Most of these are within easy walking distance of the Funny Girls venue on Dickson Road.
