Southampton Stag Do's

Getting around

Southampton city centre, which is likely where you’ll be want to be for most of the time, is largely flat, and easily walkable. In the evenings, most of the main nightlife areas such as the Polygon, Bedford Place and the Cultural Quarter are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other, which keeps costs down and means you won't need any designated drivers on duty. 

If you’re feeling lazy however, you can download the Voi e-scooter app, locate a nearby vehicle using the handy map tool and scan the QR code to activate beginner's mode (unless you're already a pro). The e-scooters are kind to the environment and cheap as chips, costing £1 initial unlocking fee and then just £0.14-0.20 per minute to use, or a flat £7-10 bargain fee for 24 hours usage. Southampton also has an excellent public transport network; expect to pay around £3.80 for all-day bus travel around the city centre, while taxi ranks can be found at locations including the High Street and Southampton Central rail station.

And train is definitely the best way to get to your stag weekend in Southampton in the first place, with the city less than 90 minutes from central London by rail. It’s also just off the M3 and M7, and if members of your group are driving, there are several public car parks available. We can also book Southampton stag hotels with car parking, if you think you might need to make a fast getaway!

Tips and ideas

You won’t go wrong with a Southampton stag do, and you definitely won’t run out of things to do either. All your favourite old-school stag activities can be enjoyed here, such as Paintballing and Clay Pigeon Shooting, as well as modern classics such as the zany fun of Bubble Football. 

There are also some great choice activities here that you rarely find elsewhere. Unleash your inner Lewis Hamiltons for instance, with a thrilling F1 Race Car Simulator, get competitive, and see who comes out in pole position and can assume bragging rights for the duration of the weekend. Or you might fancy taking a spin out into the Solent, perhaps even as far as the beautiful Isle of Wight, on a RIB Boat Tour for some fast-paced, splashy fun.

The Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre, just out of town, is also very popular with our Southampton stags. This is a specialist canoeing centre with access to a private lake and the River Itchen, providing superb conditions for those who know their way around an oar, as well as those taking their first paddle. Here you can canoe or kayak between pubs, and generally arse about on the water, perhaps making the groom walk the plank (but we didn't suggest that, of course). You can also try your hands at archery, and a high ropes course. 

With its strategic position on the south coast, and a storied past as a military and commercial port, Southampton is a fascinating city to wander around if you’re a history buff. If it’s a nice day, you can walk around the old city walls, which is about two miles in total, and will take you past one of the most famous buildings in Southampton, the medieval Bargate which was once the gateway to the city.

Southampton was also one of the final ports of call for the Titanic, and you can follow the Titanic Trail around the city, as well as see an exhibition dedicated to the ill-fated cruise ship at the SeaCity Museum on Havelock Road. The Solent Sky is another interesting museum in Southampton, where you can see a Spitfire, a Tiger Moth and various other unique and historic aircraft.

Lastly, Southampton hosts several excellent beer festivals throughout the year, including BeerFest on the Green, usually in May, and the unapologetically raucous Oktoberfest which, at the time of writing, has five successful years under its belt and takes place...well...in October. If you and the fellas have a taste for the finer ales, then why not tie in the stag do with one of these always well-attended events - but be prompt with ticket purchases and make sure you contact us sooner rather than later to secure availabilty for your preferred choice of accommodation.

Nightlife

Much of the action in Southampton takes place around a neighbourhood known as the Polygon, where you’ll find Bedford Place. Funky Flamingo is a cool lounge bar with a rooftop garden that’s perfect for a few drinks by day or by night, Here, they serve up bottomless brunches and sizzling Italian grub. You’ve also got CRIB here, where you and the boys can chow down on tasty pizza while competing against each other in a friendly game of shuffleboard. 

Also to be found around these parts is The Bedford, a not-to-be-missed venue in a beautiful building that has recently undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment. It houses a great pub, club, restaurant and a rocking live music venue plus five offers cheap but decent grub, pool tables, and live sports on the telly; late-night cocktail bar and AWESOME brunch idea XOXO, and Beards & Boards, a stripped-down craft microbrewery with a punk rock ethos and a soundtrack to match. Don’t miss the Social either, a chilled lounge bar with open mic nights on Fridays. And then of course you’ve got Revolution, where there’s always a party atmosphere, stag groups are welcomed with open arms, and we’ll be happy to book you in for dinner.

Very close to the Polygon is another popular Southampton stag do nightlife area, what’s called the Cultural Quarter. Around here you’ll find reliable Irish bar O’Neills, as well as Grumpy Monkey, a stylish bar that shows sports, and whose kitchen turns out some of the best burgers in Southampton. Seriously. We’re also big fans of Belgium & Blues, where you can sup on a huge range of craft and Belgian beer, slow-cooked ribs, to a backdrop of Blues music spun by DJs. Definitely one of the coolest drinking holes in the city. 

Portswood is the student area, a fair way out from the city centre, and it’s unlikely that you’ll find yourselves in this neck of the woods. If you do, however, expect cheaply priced drinks and a lively atmosphere. The Brewhouse & Kitchen is a decent venue hereabouts, and we think it serves up some of the best Sunday roasts in Southampton.

Clubs-wise, Southampton is banging of course, as you would expect from a city with two universities and a busy port. Fever & Vibe is somewhere our groups rave about, playing commercial, dance and R&B in Bedford Place. We also love the Orange Rooms, an offbeat club with a Tiki Lounge, a snow chalet-inspired bar, Vespa scooters and an eclectic roster of guest DJs that in the past has included Mr Scruff, Russell Brand and De La Soul. Come dressed to impress, ready to boogie, and thirsty for cocktails. And if you’re after a mad one, Switch is an epic dance club with private tables and bottle service available for well-behaved stag groups. 

And last but not least, because we know that many of our stag groups do like to spend a little time throwing money at beautiful ladies, why not let us sort you out with Entry to one of Southampton’s top Lapdancing Clubs, where you can ensure the groom has a night to remember, or at the very least one he’ll find it difficult to forget!

FAQ

Is Southampton good for a stag do?

Southampton is a great stag do destination, with plenty of cultural and historic attractions, an easily walkable city centre, great nightlife and a solid range of stag activities we think you’ll love. We’ve been successfully sending stag groups to Southampton since 2004, so we know what ingredients you need for a successful and memorable weekend away. So, leave the arrangements in the hands of our knowledgeable team, and prepare to give the groom-to-be a send-off he won’t forget in a hurry!

All the classic activities are available, such as paintballing and go-karting, so you should be able to find what you need for a daytime activity before the drinks start coming in. You've then got a number of great nightclubs, albeit they tend to close at 2am (a little early for some, but most will be done by that point). Of course, we have lap dance clubs so you can arrange a stripper for the groom.

Where is your stag do accommodation in Southampton located?

We know how important it is for you to be close to the action, which is why the Southampton stag hotels we use are always located within a 10-20 minute walk of the city centre. That way there are no long taxi journeys in and no exhausting journeys back at the end of the night. 

If there’s a particular area of Southampton that you’d like to stay in or be close to, such as Bedford Place or the West Quay, just let us know and we can tell you what’s available.

We always choose venues that are stag-friendly, which actually rules out a lot of options as many have strict rules regarding this, so when you're booked with us you can be sure you won't get hassle or be turned away when you arrived and everyone is wearing a tutu.

What kind of stag do activities can we do in Southampton?

Southampton has a full range of classic stag do experiences available for you, including Paintballing, Clay Pigeon Shooting and Bubble Football. There is also a number of other fun stag activities you can try here, including an F1 Race Car Simulator, action-packed RIB Boat Ride in the Solent, and relaxed watersports at the Woodmill Activity Centre, which is just a 15-minute drive out of town. 

For the night out, you can have the barcrawl bunnies accompany you, which will mean they will help with arranging drinks at the bar and serving everyone, as well as keeping the group laughing and bonding, plus ensuring you all get in and skip the queus. You'll even get some free shots included! 

If you're looking for something during the day which involves booze then the bottomless brunch is a great option, meaning there are no limits to how much you can all consume during the set time period. Just make sure not to start climbing up on the tables and dancing, it happens more often than you'd think. Yes you Dave, we're all looking at you.

If you would rather do something a little more sober during the day, the escape rooms offer a fun challenge that will keep the group heavily occupied for an hour. They can also help people to bond if they haven't met others before, so they can break the ice before the drinks start.

Do you offer Southampton stag do packages?

We offer a number of great-value stag do packages for Southampton, which include your accommodation plus one or two activities. Choose the one that fits your group’s interests best, and then you can add on extra activities as you see fit. Think of our Southampton stag packages as the foundations for your weekend away - you’ve got the essentials covered, now you can take your time browsing what else there is to do to add a bit of bespoke spark. 

How do we book a Southampton stag weekend?

We make booking your Southampton stag do easy. It needs just a £50 deposit and a rough idea of numbers to secure the booking. Then, within the next 14 days, we need each member of the group to access our online payment system, the Party Hub, to make a minimum payment of £30 to secure their place. The full balance is usually due 42 days before the trip takes place, or you might opt for our handy monthly instalment plan option. 

Since each group member can easily pay online, there’s no need for you as the organiser to chase them up for money, as we’ll remind them whenever a payment is due. Simples!