Belfast has overtaken Dublin to take the top spot on the Irish island as a hen party destination.

For much of the past decade, Dublin has been among the busiest cities in Europe for 'nearly-weds' looking to let their hair down before the big day.

However, fresh data reveals that Belfast has become a party destination since coming out of lockdown, with bookings for hen parties at top stag and hen company Last Night of Freedom rising by 227%.

The managing director of the company, Matt Mavir, stated "Belfast is definitely on the rise – it's our fastest growing new location and has a real buzz."

"For most of the past decade, Dublin seemed untouchable as the destination for hen parties across Europe.

"It's obviously still a fantastic city, but it's one of the most expensive in Europe. A pint of Guinness regularly approaches €10 at busy periods in Temple Bar.

"It's not surprising that Belfast is more appealing to hens who fancy a change– its nightlife is just as good, at around half the price of Dublin."

Based in Tyneside, North England, Last Night of Freedom has produced an unquestionable list of the top ten hen do locations in the UK and Ireland.

Belfast placed fourth on the list, followed by Dublin in the fifth spot. According to recent data from the company, the capital of Northern Ireland has hosted almost one in five of the hen dos that were scheduled for the UK and Ireland.

"People's habits have definitely changed as a result of the cost of living crisis," Mavir said. "They want value for their money, which has led to the big comeback of resorts like Benidorm for hens and stags."

"Yet although Belfast is more affordable than Dublin and many other places, I don't think that's the sole factor contributing to its growing appeal. While attractions like the Titanic and Game of Thrones are important, the city is also becoming known for its nightlife and culture, particularly in the Cathedral Quarter."

Belfast outperformed classic party cities like Manchester and Leeds, as well as Edinburgh and London, in terms of bookings.

The only locations that topped Belfast were Liverpool, York and Newcastle for hen dos.