A Guide to Liverpool - Grand National Weekend
With it’s reputation as a party city and a diverse nightlife, Liverpool is the perfect place for a hen weekend. There is no better time to visit than the weekend of the Grand National, when the city is most alive!
If you’re travelling from further afield, direct trains from most major cities come into Liverpool Lime Street, located in the city centre. To get to the racecourse, take a train from Liverpool Central Station to Aintree Station. Trains run every 10 minutes and the journey takes around 20 minutes,d the racecourse is across the road from Aintree Station. Brimming with cocktail bars, for sophistication head to Castle Street Townhouse, Palm Sugar or the Old Blind School. Smugglers Cove, Aloha and The Peacock are also worth a visit. Quirky alternatives can be found at Ex Directory, where a secret entrance is located in a telephone box, and cocktails are served in mini baths, teacups and discoballs. Oh Me Oh My is a rooftop bar overlooking the river Mersey and directly in front of the Liver building.
Arts Club and Hanover Street Social are best for group meals, whilst smaller independent restaurants can be found along Duke Street. Liverpool One offers a variety of eateries, with Chaophraya being one of the cities best Asian restaurants. For those seeking elegance try the Carriage Works or the Panoramic, which is located on the 34th floor of a tower and has 360 degree views of the city. If you fancy a trip to the church before your big day, restaurant and bar Alba de Cuba is located inside a (former) church. The Albert Docks hosts multiple bars and eateries, one of which is Circo - the clue is in the name, a cirque du soleil dinner show is put on at weekends followed by an afterparty where the venue turns into a club.
If you’re up for going straight from the racecourse to the dancefloor Flares provides cheap cocktail, shots and fishbowls, 80’s music and opens at 4pm on a Saturday and gets packed by 6pm (trust me!). One of the best features of Liverpool is how the clubs are all close together. Kingdom, Mansion and Empire are go to venues. Alternatively Heebie Jeebies, Brooklyn Mixer, Soho and Baa Baar’s can all be found in the city centre all open till the early hours. Seal Street is where the main clubs lie.
Before your carriage takes you back, food is essential and Bold Street, located opposite Concert Square and provides gourmet pop up food solutions. For rehydration the next day Moose is perfect for waffles and pancakes, whilst the brunch club (Duke Street) is best for avocado on toast and Cafe Tobac (Bold Street) will fulfil those who require a full English. If you fancy carrying on drinking, champagne breakfasts and bottomless brunches can be sourced from the Cosy Club, Neighbourhood cafe and Carpathia Champagne Bar (inside 30 James Street Hotel).