With two members of Team ELLE soon to tie the knot with their respective significant others - step forward, Content Editor Leisa Barnett and Chief Sub-Editor Fern Ross – we had the perfect excuse to throw a hen party, ELLE-style. So of course, we did.
Wearing our party veils (hand-made by #ELLEMakes coordinator and beauty director, Sophie Beresiner), we arrived at Shoreditch’s Swingers Crazy Golf pop-up to hit up its 9-hole course (with a glass of Freixenet champagne in hand, of course).
After racking up quite the appetite, post-golf we indulged in Patty & Bun’s signature Ari Gold burger (beef, smoky mayo, pink pickled onion in a glazed brioche bun) and a cocktail dubbed the The Soho Spritz (Freixenet Cordon Negro, Martini Rosato, Aperol, Taylor’s Chip Dry Port, lemon juice, tonic water and cubed ice).
Next, the party moved onto Old Bengal Warehouse in Liverpool Street – a restaurant and bar set in a converted historic building constructed 18th century.
When better to discuss wedding details than with platters of salt and pepper squid, beer-battered fish bites and steak tartar on croutons, in addition to an array of cocktails from the menu (a favourite was the Bridgetown Daiquiri – Mount Gay Black Barrel rum, Maraschino liquor, grapefruit juice and sugar cane syrup)? Certainly, plenty of liquid courage was required for the next leg…
We finished the evening at Soho’s Lucky Voice karaoke bar. On arrival, the party filled into a private soundproof leather-padded room decked out with LV's signature Drinks button (which ensured Prosecco was kept in abundant supply), and a dress up box (complete with wigs and inflatable instruments). The next few hours saw the ELLE Hens partake in brave solos, competitive duets and full-blown group choruses, belting out everything from Kanye West to Adele to Shirley Bassey (one attempt at Goldfinger separating the amateurs from the unexpected karaoke champions).
