Women have long reaped the benefits of free food and drink and other “ladies’ night” offers in the UAE. From swanky bars to shisha cafes and spas, there is no shortage of generous discounts and gratis deals from Sunday to Thursday.
Now, a handful of venues are redressing the balance with offers for the boys, although few can match the array of those available to the fairer sex.
While hospitality industry margins are squeezed, rents remain high and customer numbers are down, the “nibbles for nothing” model is tough to sustain across the board.
Still, there are “men’s night” options and, in light of the sluggish economic climate, men about town are taking a pragmatic view of the current deals on offer to them.
“We’re not expecting evenings for free,” says graphic designer Robert Durrant, from Dubai. “The real benefit is in going somewhere to meet like-minded people and enjoying an evening that’s catered to you.
“I think men’s nights are a lot more focused on an overall experience and networking. It’s good to see the emergence of communities focused on this, because there’s a recognisably-unfair tilt towards ladies’ nights on the cheap.”
Leading the charge with an alternative evening for male professionals and small business owners is Cocktail Kitchen in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lake Towers. Armed with sleek metallic membership cards, a healthy-sized crowd of gents attend The Negroni Club every Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm.
The collective was founded on the tenet of helping patrons “be the better man”, and CK’s stylish soirées are all about indulging in some cerebral socialising.
“We looked at ladies’ nights as an example of ‘doing something for free’ – and I’ve always believed there was no value in that,” says John Gillespie, co-owner of Cocktail Kitchen.
“Instead, for an annual fee of Dh700, we teach guys how to entertain, host dinner parties and mix drinks. We gift them five key pieces of kit, including shakers and strainers. They’re also entitled to complimentary drinks and a 25 per cent discount when they dine here.
“It’s great to see guys from all professions and cultures meet to network on a weekly basis.”
Having signed up 60 members to date, Gillespie aims to add a further 90 by the year-end. His ambition is for attendees and local businesses to mingle and trade by means of a loyalty scheme in which members receive a 15 per cent discount on a variety of fashion brands.
Another incentive for new recruits is a free haircut or beard trim on their first visit to Akin Barber & Shop on Jumeirah Beach Road.
Personal-grooming promotions in conjunction with a men’s night strike a chord with Cyrus Motamedi, a sales director at TV company OSN. He is a frequent visitor to Jazz Lounge Spa in Dubai, where he spends about Dh1,300 a month on average on services including massages, facials and haircuts.
“There still aren’t that many deals for men right now,” says Motamedi. “I’d really like to see more promotions of any kind, more discounts or add-on services, for example. We’re getting there but very slowly.”
While health-and-beauty promotions for women are common in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, similar pampering deals for men are hard to find and it is tough for businesses to make money from them.
Peymon Sharifi, the managing director of Jazz Lounge Spa, says that even with half-price deals and monthly special offers, he is not guaranteed a full appointment book.
“It’s challenging and deals aren’t always successful in this market,” he says. “Women visiting spas often have a bit more time, or can come during the day. Most men can’t.
“Also, men are less price-conscious because their treatments already cost a lot less than women’s. But for ladies having a Dh2,000 service on their hair, when a daytime discount of even just 15 per cent is offered, everyone turns up.”
One woman sympathetic to men in search of weekly food and beverage deals has decided to do something about it. “Every night is ladies’ night somewhere, but we don’t offer one in our restaurant” says Darja Mollberg, the manager of Hunters Room & Grill at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina.
“I was sure that gents were feeling a bit left-out and so we became one of the first places to launch a men’s night, in 2014. I come from Sweden where equality is so important, so it was my focus to offer a good initiative for gents too.”
Chaps can head to the beachfront restaurant every Tuesday from 6pm to 10.45pm for a promotion called the Gentleman’s Agreement, which offers groups of two or more men either a 50 per cent discount on steaks or a select bottle of beverage.
“Women enjoy different things on a ladies’ night,” says Mollberg. “There’s lots of chatting, often standing at tables having some light food and drinks.
“Gents want a quality steak and premium beverages – time with the guys. Men’s nights are becoming more important. I think they’ll pick up more and more.”
In the capital, men’s nights are also growing in popularity. At Stratos, Le Royal Méridien, gents can enjoy 50 per cent discounts on select cuts of meat, or a bottle of house beverage, every Monday from 7pm to 11pm.
Just down the road from the revolving bar, you can also enjoy views over the city at Jazz & Fizz Bar at the Sofitel. Selected menu items are half-price on Mondays, from 8pm until midnight, with accompanying beverage and cigar promotions.
At the World Trade Center, BU! Trinity holds Gentlemen’s Nights every month, with an evening of food, drink and cigars starting from Dh300.
For men’s nights dates, times, menus and prices, see the respsective websites.
rduane@thenational.ae