JGA

Planning a bachelor or bachelorette party for a friend and want to skip the classic shot bar? In Brussels, WoodCutter isn't just another branch, it's where it all started. Set in the lower Marolles neighbourhood, a short walk from the Sablon, the Manneken Pis and the Grand Place, this 250m² axe throwing bar with 9 caged lanes opened here first, before expanding elsewhere in Belgium and Germany.

From day one, the activity was a hit with groups of women looking for a bachelorette night that felt different from karaoke or bowling. It still delivers exactly that today for any bachelor or bachelorette party: an activity where the bride or groom to be becomes the centre of attention, no experience is needed, and the night can keep going right in the same neighbourhood thanks to the sheer number of bars and restaurants nearby.

• The address where it all began. Before spreading elsewhere, WoodCutter threw its very first axes right here, in the Marolles. Celebrating your bachelor or bachelorette party at this address means doing it at the brand's birthplace, not just another location.

• A reward built in for the bride or groom to be. They get an exclusive challenge of their own, with a prize on the line if they pull it off, turning the most stressed person of the night into the star of the show.

• From safety talk to competition, with no dead time. The Axe Master opens the session with the safety briefing, fine-tunes each person's grip and stance one by one, then sets the group loose on games and a final tournament.

• No need to step away from the lane for a drink. Beers, cocktails and soft drinks stay available throughout the session, ready between throws.

• A base right in the historic centre. Wedged between the Sablon and the Manneken Pis, the venue sits in one of the capital's densest neighbourhoods for bars and restaurants.

The result: an activity that brings everyone in, from the best man who's never held an axe to the one already acting like a pro after three throws.

At WoodCutter Brussels, the bachelor/bachelorette package starts from 4 participants, working just as well for a small circle of close friends as for a big crew gathered specifically for the occasion. The session slots in easily earlier in the evening, before the group heads off to the bars in the neighbourhood or the historic centre for the rest of the night.

The same format can just as easily host other celebrations if your group wants to combine occasions over the same weekend: a birthday to mark at the same time, a farewell drink before someone moves on, or simply the shared urge to break from the usual routine. Since everyone gets guided from their very first throw, it doesn't matter if half the group has never touched an axe and the other half mostly came for the vibe, everyone ends up joining in. For those who want to come back for more later in the year, WoodCutter Brussels also runs an axe throwing tournament every Sunday.

Still time to book, before the wedding invitations go out.