Brighton Stag Do's

Getting around

If you’re travelling to Brighton by train, then you’ll be pleased to know that the station, with its attractive curved-glass roof, is conveniently located right in the heart of the city. It’s just an hour from London, under 40 minutes from Gatwick Airport, and then from the station to the beach is simply a 10-minute stroll down lively Queens Road. 

There’s no shortage of excellent stag accommodation in Brighton city centre. Options include the contemporary New Steine Hotel in Kemptown, the great value YHA hostel just a minute's walk from the Palace Pier, and the impressive Jury's Inn nestled right on the seafront. We also offer a great range of self-catering apartment and house options so check those out if you fancy having a seaside stag pad just for your group. Don’t worry if you’re staying slightly outside the centre, because Brighton is a very walkable city and has a sterling public transport network. Behind the train station you’ll find a bustling taxi rank, and several of the main bus routes stop outside the front of the station, ensuring that you can easily get where you need to go. Look out for the Big Lemon Bus, which serves a couple of routes and runs on recycled vegetable oil!

If you’re planning to drive to Brighton, we recommend car-sharing and splitting the cost of parking. While there are plenty of large central public car parks - the NCP on Russell Road near the Brighton Centre being one good example - those in the city centre can be rather expensive. On-street parking tends to be even more pricey, and also limited, with permits required in many areas. Some hotels will offer cheap car parking, while in a secure car park you can expect to pay up to £30 for 24 hours. There is no free parking within a 30-minute walk of Brighton city centre, so all-in-all, you’re best off coming by public transport if you can.

Once you’ve settled in, you’ll find that walking is the best way to get around on a Brighton stag do, due to the city’s compact size. It’s mostly flat, with the steeper sections in more residential areas. If you don’t fancy a walk, or if you’re feeling a little fragile from the night before, then there are plenty of buses and taxi services too. Stag groups can be reassured they’re never more than a few minutes’ stumble from the bus stop they need. There are reliable night-time taxi ranks to be found in stag-friendly locations at the bottom of North Street, in the Old Steine area, and at various points along the seafront. 

Daytimes, if the weather’s nice, you can download the BTN BikeShare app, letting you easily pick up hire bikes at many points around the city. If you have the energy for it you could take a leisurely (and traffic-free) cycle all the way to Rottingdean (4.5 miles), where you can get a nice portion of fish and chips and gaze out to see from the undercliffs. The Easy Rider option lets each app-user take out up to four bikes at a time, at just £1 to start, then 4p per minute after that.

Tips and ideas

Brighton is an excellent location for stag groups as it has everything you need for a weekend to remember (or forget!) What happens in Brighton, stays in Brighton! Whether you want your weekend to be full of classic stag do activities like Paintballing and Quad Biking, or you want to experience something a little more unusual like Bourbon Tasting and Jedi Training, Brighton pretty much has it all. 

Is it really a trip to the seaside without making a beeline for the pier and reliving your childhood? You and the guys can get a little competitive with the arcades on the pier, followed by a pint at Horatio's, or a bag of hot sugary donuts in a deckchair - or both! There’s also some pretty adventurous rides, including the nerve-shredding Booster - do it on an empty stomach, is our sage advice. If you’d prefer something a little more relaxed, boat trips out to the awesome Rampion Wind Farm run from the Marina (30 minutes from the Palace Pier on foot, or just grab the number 7 bus). You can combine them with some fishing, and maybe even see the resident dolphins. There’s also the attention-grabbing i360, where a glass capsule takes you 162m up this slim observation tower with amazing views across Brighton, the South Downs, and the sea. If your group is feeling brave, why not book in for the Walk i360 activity where you'll get to stand on top of the capsule, rather than inside it! 

The narrow streets of The Lanes and the North Laines, either side of North Street, are lined with cool bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants and quirky, independent shops. If you want craft beer, vegan pizza or a novelty sex toy for the stag to parade around with, you’ll find it here. And probably all in the same place! On West Street, meanwhile, you’ll find lots of spacious, commercial bars which are really popular with stag and hen groups, and are great places for pre-drinking. Among them is Revolution, which is an ideal option for dinner before heading out on the town. During the summer, this street carries vibes of the Benidorm strip, so it's a must for any Stag group!

Throughout the year, there are a number of different social events that take over the city. They range from foodie festivals to classic car conventions, as well as quirky favourites like Paddle Round the Pier and the Naked Bike Ride. 

Major events include the Brighton Fringe, always a hit with comedy fans, the Brighton Festival which showcases the arts, the Great Escape music festival where upcoming acts perform live in venues across the city, and of course the legendary Brighton Pride. All of these events see Brighton hotels fill up fast, so make sure your accommodation is booked early if your stag weekend in Brighton coincides with any of them. Check out what’s on in Brighton before you go to find out if there are any exciting events that you can incorporate into your stag weekend - or just ask one of our expert team. 

Nightlife

Brighton and a good night out go together like vodka and Red Bull. The city has a varied and unique nightlife scene that draws thousands of people from all over the UK. Many choose to spend their evenings in one of the beachside clubs which really come alive in the summertime. 

However some of the pubs, bars and clubs along the seafront and in the bohemian Laines areas tend to be a little wary of stag groups. You could try breaking your group up for staggered entry, or you could look to the venues along West Street, which is stag paradise in Brighton. Here you’ve got Antipodean sports bar Walkabout or cocktails at Revolution (both great places to grab a bite to eat as well, so let us know if you’d like us to book you a table). There are also cocktails to be had at the stylish Zahara, or pure unadulterated cheese at Popworld which is hen night central.

Also on West Street you’ve got the Bright Helm, which is a Wetherspoons so you can be sure of decently priced food and drink - it never hurts to get a few cheap rounds in to kick off the proceedings! At the bottom is Steinbeck & Shaw, which is moments from PRYZM, an enduringly popular club for stag groups. It has themed rooms with different music genres played in each, which means that there’s something for the whole group to enjoy. And being situated right at the foot of West Street, close to a taxi rank, it’s also super convenient. Just off West Street, hidden away on Boyce's Street, is The Oculist, a fab venue with a newly decked out roof garden, offering potent cocktails, delicious food and electronic music. 

Along the seafront you’ve got a fantastic range of bars and clubs. The Tempest and the Fortune of War, are both ideal for a spot of day-drinking when the weather is good. Just in-land in The Lanes are The Walrus on Ship Street with its eclectic style and two-storey roof garden, and The Mesmerist on Prince Albert Street with four bars, a lovely roof garden, and a trendy decor inspired by old gin palaces. Both are first class venues for groups.

If you’re after something a little bit different before the evening really hits its stride, Brighton will not disappoint. There’s karaoke at recently refurbished Lucky Voice in The Lanes, always a favourite with plenty of drinks deals to enjoy in your private room - or you can even take part in a cocktail making masterclass on-site. Komedia is a Brighton institution, a comedy club that regularly attracts big names, and it’s right next door to the Gourmet Burger Kitchen so it couldn't be easier to make a night of it there. 

And at the North Laine Brewhouse, a spacious and lively pub and microbrewery, you’ve got Axe-Throwing, in a caged-off area next to the bar. Have a few drinks with your mates and take part in a tournament to see who can sling the steel with the most accuracy.

As for clubs, Shooshh, located on the seafront, is always a popular option with stag groups. Complete with a large outdoor area, this club opens up its doors on warm days to welcome in the sea air and provide that unbeatable Brighton clubbing experience. Casablanca on Middle Street is perfect for a completely unpretentious boogie on the dancefloor. Playing classic jazz, funk, Motown, soul and disco, it has a famous party-all-night ambience that has always made it a Brighton favourite for late-night drinkers and dancers. Whilst PRYZM has you covered for those dancefloor classics, if your group fancies something a little less mainstream musically, you might try Volks or Patterns, which are both very near to the Palace Pier. 

If you love a game with the lads, then a trip over to World's End could be a tempting one, where they have VR games downstairs and an entire arcade upstairs. We don't recommend staying in the London Road area all night, but there's a few good places for a couple of pints before descending into town, such as the Hare and Hounds for a decent beer garden, good Mexican food and a pint of Blue Moon, or The Joker for plush decor and epic buffalo wings.

And finally, if it’s lap dancing that you’re after, then we recommend popping over to Platinum Lace. This is our favourite lap dancing club in Brighton, and it’s located in a prime city-centre spot close to many good pubs and bars. Inside the club, you’ll find private booths and lots of comfy seating for you to sit down and take in the, er, scenery.

FAQ

Is Brighton good for a stag weekend?

Hundreds of stag groups choose Brighton every year to see the groom off in style. With abundant stag activities, great accommodation options and a buzzing nightlife scene, all just an hour on the train from London, Brighton isn't just good for a stag weekend - it’s amazing. 

What is there to do on a Brighton stag weekend?

We recommend starting with a fun activity such as go-karting or an escape room. After dinner at a stag-friendly restaurant such as Las Iguanas or Revolution you can explore the hedonistic vibes on West Street, before finishing up at one of the many clubs along the seafront. Need a little help? Our Brighton guided bar crawls are a handy way to get your night off to a good start.

Can you wear fancy dress on a Brighton stag do?

Not only can you wear fancy dress, it’s positively encouraged. In fact, rare is the weekend in Brighton where you won’t see a stag or hen group wearing something outrageous. Some Brighton venues won’t accept fancy dress, but our team can advise you which ones have restrictions. 

What are the best Brighton stag do activities?

Brighton offers the full range of classic stag do activities such as bubble football, go karting, paintballing, quad biking and lap-dancing clubs. It also has stag experiences that are unique to the city, like the arcades and rides along the pier, and even Jedi training! On top of all that, Brighton has one of the best nightlife scenes in the UK, with a good night out guaranteed.

Is stag do accommodation in Brighton expensive?

Brighton is generally quite an expensive city, but stag do accommodation here is reasonably priced. There are plenty of high-quality hotels around the city centre or a short taxi journey beyond, that often include breakfast. Whatever your group’s budget our team can find you a suitable, stag-friendly place to stay.

What are the best bars for a Brighton stag do?

We recommend the bars and clubs along West Street for Brighton stag dos, such as Revolution and PRYZM, as well as venues along the seafront including Shooshh. All of them are very walkable, and some feature regular drinks promotions. 

Are there Brighton stag do packages?

Yes! The beauty of our Brighton stag do packages is that we do all the legwork for you. Let us know your dates, approximate group numbers and budget, and what kind of thing you’re after, and we’ll recommend a package of accommodation, dinners, activities and nightclub entry that suits your needs. All you need to worry about is getting there.