Ranking ahead of lively locations like Edinburgh and Newcastle, Nottingham was crowned the third best destination in the UK for a stag do. With just London and Liverpool coming in above the central UK city famous for its links to the legendary Robin Hood, it’s well worth exploring why this destination has been deemed such a suitable location for stag parties.
If you want to find out what makes Nottingham such a hotspot for exceptional stag celebrations, simply continue reading as we list some of the best and most popular stag do ideas in Nottingham. From the bounty of bars to the sheer number of adventurous activities, we find out why you and your merry men should make a beeline for the spectacular streets of Nottingham!
Why host a stag do in Nottingham?
Packed with pubs
As one of the pub capitals of the UK, Nottingham is overflowing with enough bars, bistros, inns, and watering holes to ensure every member of your stag do party is fully refreshed at all times. No matter your favourite tipple, be it cider, wine, beer, or spirits, you can rest assured that you’ll find a stag do venue that suits your beverage preferences in this lively city.
Stay for the sports
Eager to enjoy world-class sports in Nottingham? You’ve come to the right place! Boasting one of world’s oldest test cricket grounds (Trent Bridge Cricket Ground), the National Ice Centre, Nottingham Race Track, and Nottingham Forest FC’s City Ground, this Midland city is bursting with great sporting locations.
Regardless of whether you opt for a guided tour around the football stadium or decide to spend the day at the world-class ice-skating facility used for training by the British Winter Olympic ice skating team, getting a glimpse of the sporting action is no hard task here. Simply add some irresistible food and drink to create a quality day out that any group is unlikely to forget in a hurry!
Central location
Located in the centre of the UK, Nottingham acts as a fantastic meeting point for stag party revellers regardless of whether they normally live down South or up in the North. As a result, no stag do member has to travel all the way up or down the country to reach your venue, saving all-important time and money that can be spent celebrating the stag’s last night of freedom!
Handy transport links
Boasting great transport links, Nottingham has an award-winning integrated transport system that includes a bus, tram and rail network. Whether your stag do plans involve bar hopping around the city, seeing the sights or simply getting from the stag party venue to the hotel, these convenient transport links are sure to come in handy.
Filled with unmissable attractions
If your stag do agenda is composed of calmer, more cultural interests instead of some of the more traditional (and raucous!) stag party activities, then sightseeing is a must! Nottingham itself is home to an unmissable selection of historic sites, nature and wildlife areas, speciality museums, important architecture, and theatres.
This long list of must-see Nottingham attractions includes the National Justice Museum, Nottingham Castle, City of Caves, The Arboretum, Wollaton Hall and Park, the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall, and so much more. Ideal if you want to leave Nottingham having learnt more about the local area, you won’t want to miss paying these cultural sites a visit.
Boasts a selection of stag do activities
While numerous bars and eateries are a brilliant way to kick off any stag party, taking part in a more unique or action-packed experience is likely to make the stag do far more memorable. Luckily, Nottingham is home to a wide range of exciting stag party experiences including paintballing, indoor and outdoor go-karting, escape rooms, beer tasting, quad biking, and bubble football.
The best stag do ideas in Nottingham
Whether it’s the long list of attractions that have convinced you to assemble your closest mates and book the next train to Nottingham or the sheer number of bars that have you eager to get down on one knee, we have you covered. Below, we explore some of the very best stag do ideas in Nottingham, so you don’t have to!
Start your escape early
Eager to escape from reality (only for a few hours) before the big day arrives? You’ve chosen the right city! Nottingham city centre boasts four (yes, four!) escape room businesses that you can visit with your pals. Ideal for stag parties that are searching for a daytime activity that will provide mental stimulation and encourage the group to work together as a team, these escape room experiences come in all kinds of fantastic themes.
Whether you want to work your way out of an abandoned laboratory, cursed crypt, or terrifying toy shop, these escape room experiences will spook, delight, mystify and impress you all at the same time! Best of all, they’re a great way to kick off a weekend stag do or to use an engaging daytime activity to break up the booze-fuelled evening antics.
Opt for a high-octane adventure
Situated on the outskirts of Nottingham is the highly-rated Skirmish Sherwood Forest Paintball and Activity Centre. Priding themselves on their ability to deliver adrenaline-filled day outs, they offer a selection of exciting activities that are sure to appeal to any stag do searching for an adventurous weekend away. From classic paintball and airsoft activities to axe and knife throwing, archery, and air rifle shooting sessions, these high-octane activities are sure to get your party’s blood pumping!
They even offer a wide range of packages to suit every budget, so you needn’t worry about blowing the entire stag do kitty on just one daytime activity. If you’d rather host a private paintballing party, then this activity centre could be the perfect fit, offering thrilling private paintballing games to groups with ten or more participants.
Go for the drive of your life
What do quad-biking, 4 x 4 driving experiences, and go-karting all have in common? You can sign up your stag do to all these breathtaking activities in Nottingham! Similar to the adventure activity option above, these driving activities are perfect for stag parties looking for a daytime adventure or hoping to fill their stag party weekend with plenty of new and exciting experiences.
Suitable for competitive stags eager to egg each other on and reach new speeds (under the safe and expert guidance of a qualified instructor), putting your foot to the pedal has never been so entertaining! Plus, if you want to make things even more interesting, you could place bets and assign boozy prizes for the winners and unfortunate forfeits for the unlucky individuals that come last.
Nottingham bar crawl
A popular place to enjoy a drink or two (or three or four…!), Nottingham is well-known for its endless bars and restaurants. From hidden underground bars packed with character and quirks like Lost Property and Boilermaker to sophisticated cocktail bars like The Alchemist, Be At One, and Tilt, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
With so many beloved bars within close proximity to one another in the heart of the city, only a few steps are needed to make your way from one bar to your next location. You’ll also have plenty of eatery options if you decide to take a break from the drinking and enjoy a filling meal as well as easy access to countless city centre hotels and hostels once the night has come to an end.
Delve into Nottingham’s nightlife
If your stag do prefers clubbing to bar-hopping, then why not explore some of the best nightclubs Nottingham has to offer? Big names like Stealth, PRYZM, and Popworld are on hand to make the groom’s last hoorah a music-filled blowout! These lively nightclubs feature state-of-the-art sound systems and cater to all kinds of music tastes, so you’re sure to find a nightclub that plays your favourite music genre or artists.
Regardless of whether you prefer throwing some shapes to Popworld’s cheesy hits or would rather pay a visit to Rock City to enjoy more alternative, indie or pop music, Nottingham has a nightclub for you! Just remember to book a nearby hotel so you don’t have to travel too far once the lights come up and you need a place to rest your head.
Release your inner artist
If the booze-fuelled bar hopping, high-adrenaline activities, and cultural hotspots aren’t enough to pique your interest, then why not try something a little more creative and risqué for your stag do, like life drawing? Typically, your party will be presented with a fully naked model, a professional tutor, art materials, and a bar, and will then be left to release your inner artist as your group attempts to accurately draw the model.
This fun and cheeky daytime activity is the perfect way to kick off any stag do and is ideal for parties that are trying to pull off a more sophisticated soirée for their stag’s last night as a single man. Simply put pen to paper and get stuck in as you marvel at the beauty of the male or female form and have plenty of laughs and banter along the way. Once you’ve each put the finishing touches to your own naked masterpieces, why not ask the model to choose their favourite drawing?
Why book The Bierkeller for your Nottingham stag do?
As a venue that’s known across the country for our rowdy parties and big Bavarian-style soirées, we’ve welcomed our fair share of stag and hen dos since we opened our doors over a decade ago! With booze and entertainment being essential to every successful stag do, there’s no better place to celebrate your last night of freedom than The Bierkeller.
While our Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham locations always guarantee a great night out, our Nottingham venue is bursting with endless entertainment, too. Featuring a large bier garden with two outdoor screens (ideal for any summertime stag do looking to blow off some steam), a Shooters Sports Rack & Roll bar, and a range of indoor pool tables, darts lanes, and HD TV screens, there’s something for every stag party.
And what sensational stag do would be complete without an extensive selection of tantalising tipples and treats to go along with it? From mammoth two-pint steins of ice-cold German pilsner to delicious Bavarian bratwursts and bacon frankfurters, we’ve given many a stag party their very first taste of Deutschland’s most famous culinary delights!
However, if our Nottingham venue isn’t in the best geographical location for your stag party, then why not explore our Manchester, Birmingham, Halifax or Liverpool venue? Each one offers the same unmissable Bavarian-style entertainment as well as plenty of gaming and viewing options to amuse your party while you eat and drink to your heart’s content!
Having catered to countless rambunctious stag dos across the country, we have everything you could need and more to make your stag’s send off a magnificently memorable one.