Advice · 3 min read · Updated 6 November 2026

Hot tub hire for a hen party or birthday: a planning checklist

Six to eight weeks before

• Book early for summer weekends, bank holidays and the Christmas period, which fill first
• Decide inflatable or hard-shell based on guest numbers, budget and access
• Check you have a flat, firm spot and a suitable outdoor socket
• If staying at a rented house or holiday let, get written permission to bring a hot tub
• Ask what extras are available, such as a gazebo, steps, lighting or a matting base
• Confirm what the price includes: delivery, set-up, chemicals and collection

Timing the delivery

An inflatable tub often takes most of a day to heat from a fresh fill, especially in cooler weather. For an evening party, a delivery the day before is safest. For a weekend hire, a Friday delivery usually means the tub is ready by Saturday morning.

Make sure someone is home for delivery and set-up, and that the access route and socket are ready. If the supplier needs to fill the tub, the hose must reach and the outside tap must work.

Set some house rules

Agree a few simple rules before guests arrive. Write them on a card by the tub so everyone can see them.

• Shower or rinse before getting in, and remove make-up, fake tan and lotions where possible
• No glass anywhere near the tub, only plastic cups
• No alcohol drunk in the tub, and nobody gets in if they have been drinking heavily
• Sessions of around 15 to 20 minutes, then get out to cool down
• No diving, jumping or sitting on the edge of an inflatable
• Cover goes back on when the tub is not in use
• Anyone pregnant or with a heart or other health condition checks with their doctor first

Glitter, fake tan and decorations

Hen parties often bring glitter, confetti, fake tan, bath bombs and bubble bath. These clog filters, cause foaming and can stain inflatables. Many suppliers charge extra cleaning fees for them. Ask your supplier what is not allowed and keep decorations well away from the water.

• No bath bombs, bubble bath or oils in the water
• No glitter or confetti near the tub
• Rinse off fake tan before getting in
• Keep hair tied up to reduce hair in the filter
• Use battery-powered lights, never mains decorations near the water

Water care on the day

A busy party puts a lot of strain on the water. Put one sober person in charge of testing and topping up the sanitiser using the strips and instructions provided.

• Test the water before the first guests get in
• Test again every few hours during the party and top up sanitiser if needed
• Rinse or tap out the filter if the water looks cloudy
• Test again before bed and the next morning
• Contact the supplier if the water turns cloudy, smells strongly or foams heavily

The more people use the tub, the faster the sanitiser is used up. A group of eight or ten adults over an evening can use far more than a couple would in a week, so do not assume the morning's reading still applies by midnight.

Neighbours and noise

Hot tub parties can get loud late at night, and noise carries further outdoors. Persistent loud noise can be treated as a statutory nuisance by the council. Let neighbours know in advance, keep music down after around 11pm, and close the tub at a reasonable hour. The pump and blower are fairly quiet, but placing the tub away from neighbours' bedroom windows helps.

After the party

Check the area for glass, cups and food, keep the cover on, and test the water before anyone uses it the next day. Let the supplier know about any problems at collection, so they can deal with them rather than finding them later.

If the party is spread over a weekend, give the tub a quiet hour with the cover on each morning so the water can recover and reach temperature. A quick filter rinse and a top-up of sanitiser before the second evening keeps the water pleasant for the rest of the hire.

Frequently asked questions

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