A milestone birthday is a good excuse to get your favourite people in one room. The question is what you’d most enjoy doing once they’re there. Would you rather spend the evening around a long table, catch up with friends over cocktails and a grazing table or bring a bigger crowd together for a proper party?
If you’re looking for a birthday party venue in Southend-On-Sea, our wonderfully quirky spaces at San Fairie Ann give you a few different ways to celebrate. Here’s what each could look like.
An intimate birthday dinner in the basement
If your favourite part of a celebration is sitting down to a good meal with the people you love, our private basement is a lovely setting for it. Tucked away beneath the restaurant, it has a 1920s speakeasy feel, its own bar and space for up to 25 guests seated.
A long table laid for dinner, a round of welcome drinks and a toast once everyone’s settled in. It’s a great fit if you want time to talk to your guests and enjoy a meal together. A few personal touches like handwritten place cards, flowers in your favourite colours and room decor can make the room feel like yours.
Cocktails and a grazing table in your own private bar
If your guest list includes friends from different parts of your life, a standing reception gives everyone more chance to meet and mingle. Our basement can host up to 50 guests standing, so you can make the most of the private bar and keep the evening relaxed.
Welcome cocktails and a grazing table work well for this sort of celebration. Guests can help themselves when they’re ready and you can move around the room without spending the evening in one seat. It’s worth keeping a few seats available for anyone who’d prefer to sit and leaving some clear surfaces for people to put down their drinks.
A bigger birthday celebration in the restaurant
For a longer guest list, our main restaurant seats up to 55 guests for dining or welcomes up to 90 for a standing reception. The chandeliers and eclectic interiors give the room plenty of character, whether you’re planning dinner and speeches or a more informal evening with drinks and a buffet.
If you’re thinking about a DJ, live music or a space for dancing, mention it when you enquire. It’s easier to choose the right layout once we know how you’d like to use the room, from where guests will eat to where they’ll gather later in the evening.
A few details to settle before you look
Start with a rough guest list and decide whether you want everyone to sit down to eat. That one choice will help you narrow down your space, menu and timings. Then think about how you’d like drinks to work: a welcome drink for everyone, an agreed bar tab or guests buying their own.
When you get in touch, share your preferred date, approximate guest numbers and any ideas you already have for food, decorations or entertainment. You don’t need the whole evening planned. Knowing whether you’re picturing a birthday dinner or a party is enough to get started.
Celebrate your birthday at San Fairie Ann
You’ll find us on Alexandra Street in Southend-on-Sea. If you’d like to see the basement and restaurant in person, we’d love to show you around and talk through what could work for your celebration.
Explore our Parties & Celebrations page or email hello@sanfairieann.co.uk to check availability and arrange a viewing.