Two unusual nightclubs open in Brussels: mums only and early hours

Two unusual nightclub concepts are being tested in Brussels: a mums-only club and one that opens its doors at 17.00 to cater for an after-work clientele.

The Mama Club organises parties specifically for mums and their friends, featuring an earlier end-time and a wider range of non-alcoholic options than usual.

The idea came from two friends, Bruzz reports, one pregnant with her second child and the other a single mum to twins.

“Let's be honest: mothers don't have time for hangovers when the children wake up at 6.00 in the morning,” co-founder Elodie Picard said.

“I wanted to give women the opportunity to get out and spend time with friends, but most parties don't start until very late.”

Events at the Mama Club start at 19.30 and end by midnight.

“That way, you can still be well-rested for your children or work the next day,” said Picard.

“We also offer a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails. Cool, trendy stuff, not just apple juice as is often the case.”

The first Mama Club party will take place in the C12 club near Brussels Central station on 12 March. There are 200 places available, but only mothers and their female friends are allowed in.

C12 has assured that the entire staff that evening will also be made up of women, as will the DJ and the catering.

After the opening party, Picard plans to organise two a month until the summer. The second event will take place on 23 April at Harmon House in Saint-Gilles.

“The idea is to organise parties in as many well-known places in Brussels as possible, such as La Cabane or Jeux d'Hiver,” Picard said, adding that after expanding the concept to Flanders she hopes to bring it to Wallonia as well.

“I have already been asked several times to expand the concept outside of Brussels. By July I also want to organise parties in Antwerp and Ghent.”

Potential Walloon cities to see the concept come to life include Liège or Charleroi.

Meanwhile, the ICU nightclub on Avenue Louise has also opened its doors with an unusual premise: parties starting at 17.00. This club also plans to expand to other locations in the future.

“Many people our age want to go out, but also want to go home early,’” founder Angie Ceccarini said, describing the concept as somewhere between a nightclub and a wine bar.

“We create the atmosphere of a dark, intimate club, with a high-quality light and sound system. To offer a nice drinks menu, we work with microbreweries and the chef makes fresh tapas.

"We expect to be able to stay in the building on Avenue Louise for at least one to two years. We’re organising everything today so that the ICU concept can move around the city afterwards and not be stuck in one location."

The club can accommodate some 200 to 250 people, is currently only open on Fridays and tickets cost about €15.