Marbella is known for its glamorous parties and jet set lifestyle. It´s no wonder people travel from far and wide to come here to start the season with a big blow out weekend. And what better weekend to do than the UK bank holiday where hard working Brits can come and spend a long weekend soaking up the sun and action Marbella has to offer. And luckily there´s two in May so that´s double the hedonistic pleasure to choose from.
From previous experience I understand how hard it is to make decisions on where to go while you’re away. So as a veteran May Bank Holiday Weekender I am going to let you know the do´s and don’ts for the ultimate bank holiday weekend or two if you can handle the pace!
OCEAN CLUB
Anyone who is anyone will be attending the Ocean Club this bank holiday. Their Sintillate Champagne sprays attract serious celebs and major partygoers. Spend all day sipping on their unbelievable cocktails (Strawberry Daiquiris to die for) and dancing to fantastic tunes. The only downfall of this VIP pool party is that the music isn’t quite loud enough when there are hundreds of people shouting and champagne spraying so dancing will be harder than you think. But then again with girls done up to the nines, and the majority of the men splashing more cash than pool water who would want to embarrass themselves dancing like their dad?
This day is a must especially if you’re only here for the weekend so make sure to book tickets early as tables are a sell-out and tickets go quicker than TV ‘s in Tesco on Black Friday.
From previous experience I loved my time at the Ocean but wish I had saved myself over the weekend. It’s true that 3 days of non-stop partying can definitely take its toll and I wasn’t prepared for this day as much as I’d like – especially when the day wasn’t just a party, but also a fashion show; with every girl trying to be skinnier, better looking and more glam than the next! It’s safe to say if you’re going to go to this one be sure to look your best – try getting your hair done, having great nails and a chic bikini to ensure you’re ready for this massive day out.
DATES: 3rd & 24th
DRESS CODE: Glamorous. Girls in beautiful bikinis and boys in big brands.
TYPES OF PEOPLE: Catch celebrities, TOWIE stars and footballers, but also expect the odd wanna-trader and Essex boy spending his life savings trying to out-do the boy next to him.
TICKETS: General entrance €250 (incl. bottle of Dom Pérignon 0.75L)
SISU
One of Marbella’s most banging pool parties. Full of fantastic, seriously stylish people. The dancers are out of this world and the atmosphere is like no other. The best thing about Sisu is that the tables come with Jacuzzis, so definitely look into getting one if there is a group of you. The place is always rammed and the drinks flowing. The second bank holiday (23rd) also sees the first LoveJuice all-dayer of the season so it is definitely the place to be in May. Music will be fantastic, especially with the likes of George Mensah on the decks. This is the place to let your hair down and dance like nobody is watching! The one downfall of this unreal pool party is that the bouncers can be a little feisty so try not to get yourself into any trouble.
I’d say that the Sisu party was definitely one of my favourite days over the weekend, everyone had a great time and there wasn’t a long face in sight. DJ Skyhigh from LoveJuice got the crowd going and Unique Parties and Ministry of Sound Marbella Sessions DJ Colin Francis got everyone dancing on the tables. I would go as far to say that bank holiday wouldn’t have been the same had I not attended this infamous party so make sure you’ve got your wedges and wallet ready and book your tickets asap.
DATES: LoveJuice 23rd
DRESS CODE: Fierce, fun and fabulous. Although a daytime affair, don’t dress casual.
TYPE OF PEOPLE: Essex meets Scouse.
TICKETS: Email info@love4clubbing.com
NEWS CAFE
The calm before the storm – News Café is the place to pre-drink (or stay at if you’re not after a massive night). Great music and unreal atmosphere you’re sure to have one too many at this intimate bar. The staff are fantastic and you will be sure to have a good night here. The Shisha Lounge is available so get there early for a relaxing drink before the night gets going.
Its not only the abundance of celebrities that News Café has coming through its doors, which has earned them their glam status, its chilled out and fun ambience means you will always have a good night. Being on the frontline of Puerto Banus, News Café also has fantastic views of the port and is great for people watching.
Our first night (along with most!) really began when we arrived in News Café, the music played loud, and the drinks were reasonable, considering you’re in Marbella. We definitely had one too many by the time we left but it was great to have a dance and chill out whilst drooling over the masses of ginormous yachts that sat yards in front of us. It definitely showed us how luxurious Marbella is and got us in the mood for the holiday! The only problem is that News Café is always busy so try not to get there too late to avoid queuing.
DATES: All weekend
DRESS CODE: Sexy – Marbella isn’t a casual place so even if you’re going for a quiet one make sure to look your best – you never know who you’ll bump into.
TYPE OF PEOPLE: VIPS – Many of Marbella’s finest are seen in News Café so it is definitely a must this bank holiday.
TICKETS: Free! No need to get tickets just get there early to avoid the disappointment of not getting in.
AQWA MIST
Marbella superclub Aqwa Mist is sure to give you one of the best nights you’ll ever have in Marbella. With money being spent like it’s water and bottles popping all over the club this night won’t disappoint. The music is crazy, playing songs for all types of people so have your dancing shoes on. But be prepared, Aqwa doesn’t open until 2am most nights and doesn´t close until the early hours of the morning so loose track of time and you could end up rolling out as the suns coming up!
We ended up in Aqwa most nights as the parties are so good and the place is always busy with a great vibe. The tables are also really reasonable when there is a group of you and the hosts are so lovely, we just couldn’t resist going back. However, because Aqwa opens so late, try not to burn the candle at both ends by doing day and night parties everyday.
Tickets are already selling-out fast for May Bank Holiday and their nights will 100% be the talk of the town for months to come. With resident DJ Stacey James and guest DJ’s Nick Hussey and Jon Besant there for History Parties on the 2nd and Jason Derulo on the 23rd, the weekend is sure to go off with a bang. Also, be sure to catch the HUGE Plaza Beach Opening Party on the 2nd May with Brandon Block, Alex P and Rozalla. What a line-up! This will be a great warm up to the History of House after-party.
DATES: 2nd History of House & 23rd Jason Derulo
DRESS CODE: Stylish, be sure to look good. Boys must be in shoes and trousers and girls done up to the nines.
TYPE OF PEOPLE: Big spenders – be ready to splash your cash.
TICKETS: Prices vary, See Aqwa Mist website for more details.
TIBU
This club is a definite must see when you get to Marbella. Located just outside the port in Antonio Bandares Square. It is constantly full of people, regulars, locals and tourists alike (tourists probably because it gets a lot of coverage on the TV show The Only Way is Marbs.) The music is great for you house loving party people and is sure to keep you dancing till the early hours. Their CandyPants Dusk till Dawn parties planned for the May Bank Holiday weekends every Friday really go off…. full of great people (do not miss this.) Plus Tibu´s resident DJ Tango is a real crowd pleaser.
I’d say the one downside to Tibu is that there is always a queue to get in so make sure you get there early if, like me, you’re not one to queue! However we loved Tibu with its laid back vibe and will definitely be making another appearance there this year.
DATES: 1st and 22nd
DRESS CODE: Stylish, dress to impress
TYPES OF PEOPLE: All sorts, Tibu is the place for everyone
TICKETS: See website for details
And if my advice has been of no help to you whatsoever! Marbella Rocks interviewed previous bank holiday weekenders to see what they think about these fabulous Marbella parties.
Jordan Sargeant, 23, Essex
Did you enjoy your time in Marbella last year?
Yes, I loved the atmosphere, I came with a really good group of friends and was good to get away and enjoy the sunshine and immense parties.
What day was your favourite and why?
My favourite was Ocean Club/Sintillate Champagne Spray, because it was such a good venue to host a party. I loved everybody’s style and thought all the girls (and guys) looked amazing.
What is your favourite Marbella nightclub?
Aqwa Mist, we had some really good nights in there! They just get it right with music, crowd and ambience.
What do you like most about Bank Holiday Weekend?
I loved that there was so many people here that were both relaxing and letting their hair down! Everyone was looking for a laugh and having a good time.
What did you like least?
Queuing to get into Ocean Club! They should have had a different queue for people that had tickets and those that didn’t! The set up to get in was unorganised and put us in a bit of a bad mood before we got there.
Is there anything you wish you did differently?
I wish we got there earlier on the Friday to spend the whole day at Sisu but we didn’t arrive until 3pm so we only had half the day. I also wish we had checked out some different clubs like Funky Buddha and Seven as everybody said they had some good parties there.
Jack Simpson, 21, London
What did you like best about your trip to Marbella?
The girls… (haha) and the clubs are unreal, there isn’t another place in the world I would rather go on holiday.
Where is your favourite place to party?
We loved Plaza Beach, it is not as stuck up as places like Ocean but still has that real Marbella feel with everyone looking good but still having a laugh.
What about your favourite nightclub?
It has to be Tibu! In my opinion the best club in Marbella. Always have such a laugh there and the music really goes off!
If you could do anything different what would it be?
Drink less!!! I don’t think we had one day where we didn’t drink beer like it was water! Did not feel good for work when I flew back! But it´s only one weekend so you have to make the most of it.
What was your least favourite thing?
Some of the people got a bit rowdy, especially after they got a bit drunk. Its crazy how alcohol can affect some people. It was mainly the larger groups of boys but fortunately the bouncers were on top of it most of the time and nothing ever came of it.
Are you coming back this year?
100%! We come every year it is a tradition now. We have already booked most of our tables including Jason Derulo at Aqwa Mist and LoveJuice at Sisu as they were selling out so fast!!
