Hen

BOUNCING down Benidorm’s strip on an inflatable horse, a wall of 15 Popeyes hurtles past me.

Party hits blast from a DJ on stage in the packed street as a man with a dartboard painted on his face dances around two nuns on a mobility scooter.

This is Benidorm’s annual British Fancy Dress Party and it’s the most unhinged, brilliant thing I’ve ever witnessed.

Every second or third Thursday in November, Spain’s Brit-favourite resort hosts Europe’s biggest fancy-dress gathering — part Rio Carnival, part hen do on steroids — and this year it attracted 30,000 Brits for a day and night of parades, fireworks and mayhem.

But the Fancy Dress Party isn’t your average Benidorm knees-up.

Having exploded in popularity since its beginnings in the 1990s, it’s the grand finale of Benidorm’s annual November Fiestas — a week of parades, fireworks, religious and cultural celebrations, concerts and street parties that take over the city.

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Join the Cheltenham week party in Benidorm with trips from just £153pp

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Cute Spanish town near Benidorm is warm in October with £14 flights in half term

On the Thursday, after days of Spanish fiestas, something magical happens: Benidorm hands the party over to the Brits.

Thousands pour on to Calle Gerona, otherwise known as Benidorm’s main strip, dressed as everything from Pink Ladies to Deadpool — filling the streets and its bars with brilliant, boozy bedlam.

As I stroll to the strip, where the parade takes place, I pass more Fred Flintstones than I can count, Scooby-Doo and a couple dressed as Pringles.

I’ve come as a cowboy – complete with my inflatable horse Benny (named after the town, naturally), who becomes a crowd favourite.

You won’t believe the number of strangers who want to give a friendly pat to a blow-up bronco.

He’s not the most impressive costume here by any means — Shrek and a gang of Tetris pieces make worthy contenders.

Kicking off with a parade of floats during the day, it’s a riot of colour, noise, and good vibes — surprisingly wholesome and always hilarious.

Strangers cheer each other on, Benidorm’s mobility scooters become floats, and grown adults dressed as eggs dance arm-in-arm with a fancy dress chicken.

This is people-watching heaven.

Pirate-themed Morgan’s Tavern, kicks off the madness and it’s here you will find some of the most fun tribute acts in Europe.

Next, it’s over to the cowboy-themed Western Saloon, where ‘Liam Gallagher’ reminds punters: “Why pay to see Oasis at Wembley when you can come to Benidorm, see me for free, and have a whole holiday cheaper?”

He has a point: the prices are a revelation.

Bottles of beer and glasses of wine are generally £1.75-£2.60, and many cocktails are two for €12 (£10.50).

Plus, entertainment in every bar, not just during the Fiesta, is free.

Head to Tapas Alley in the Old Town — a cobbled street lined with tiny, buzzing Spanish bars.

My favourite was Aupa Taberna, where I tried one of the best tortillas I’ve had in Spain, fresh fish dishes, meatballs and jugs of proper sangria. We paid around £15-£20 each with drinks.

A few steps away, La Cava Aragonesa serves outstanding pintxos — crab, salmon, olives and meats piled on crusty bread. Eight pintxos and a bottle of wine set us back around £17.50 for the table.

Pre-parade, try Jungle Bar on the beach for stacked burgers that fuelled us cowboys for hours.

‘THINGS I CAN NEVER UNSEE’

I rented a modern Airbnb in the Old Town: three bedrooms, spacious terrace and beach gear included, which cost £155pp for four of us, for four nights.

It was a ten-minute walk to the beach and 25 minutes to the strip. It’s also 45 minutes away from nearest airport, Alicante, by car — we pre-booked a taxi for four for £57.

Not only is the Old Town quieter and better value, it’s full of charming tiled streets, tapas bars and Spanish families out late.

Benidorm surprised me in every way: It’s wild. It’s loud. I’ve seen things I can never unsee.

But it’s also friendly, colourful, safe, cheap, and beautiful in parts (head to the historic Balcó de la Mediterrània for the perfect sea view pic).

I went for the madness and left plotting my costume for next year.

Me and Benny are ready for round two.