Regardless of whether you’re the best man or the big man himself, planning an unforgettable stag party is likely to be top of your priorities! Luckily, the beer-loving and Bratwurst-making team at The Bierkeller are on hand to help make your Manchester stag do one to remember for all the right reasons.
Home to one of our infamous Bavarian-themed venues, Manchester is a prime pre-wedding celebration location for stag parties. Attracting stags from not just the UK, but also across the world, this lively Metropolitan city is bursting with stag do activities, bars, and much more.
To help you and your pals decide whether Manchester is the best place to base your stag do activities, we explore everything this city has to offer boisterous bachelor parties. From how to plan a stag do in Manchester to the abundance of Manchester stag do activities, we leave no stone of inebriation inspiration unturned.
Is Manchester good for a stag do?
As one of the liveliest cities in the UK with a bustling nightlife and countless hotels, venues, bars, and eateries, it’s no wonder Manchester is one of the most popular stag party locations. With plenty of sought-after stag do amenities well within walking distance, getting from A to B is effortless – even after a few too many tipples!
While the number of bars in Manchester city centre is undoubtedly one of the biggest pull factors for stag parties, the notorious nightlife isn’t the only reason to pay this city a visit just before the big day.
Known across the world for its connection with football, renowned art galleries, and even music, Manchester has something for every soon-to-be married man!
Should you consider stag do weekends in Manchester?
Thanks to the abundance of essential amenities and entertaining stag do activities that can be found within Manchester, stag parties often stay for a whole weekend rather than just one night nowadays.
With a whole weekend to fill, you can create an exciting agenda that includes a variety of Manchester stag do activities.
This might include a morning of paintballing, an afternoon of watching your favourite sport live, and an evening of eating and drinking, all before heading to a club to end the night with a bang! You can repeat again the next day if you want to make the most of your weekend or (more likely perhaps!) take it easy with some good food and cultural trips.
A weekend stag do is also advisable if a lot of travel is required to get you and your soon-to-be groomsmen to your chosen location. You may even have friends and family flying in from abroad to be there for both the stag do and the upcoming wedding, so opting for a weekend instead of one night of celebrations often makes more sense.
How to plan a stag do in Manchester
Simply rolling up in Manchester with all your mates may sound like a sure-fire way to have a successful stag, but this isn’t always the case. To help prevent travel disasters and being turned away from bars upon arrival with your pals, thoroughly planning your stag do is highly-recommended!
Not to mention, planning well in advance can also help you to save money, book tickets, venues, and tables ahead of time, and ensure you fit in as many stag do activities into the weekend as possible.
Below, we explain some of the most important areas to consider when planning your marvellous Manchester-based stag do.
Make the necessary travel arrangements
Regardless of whether you live local to Manchester or at the opposite end of the country, taking the time to ensure everyone has made the right travel arrangements can help your party to avoid being slapped with unwelcomed fines and penalty tickets.
Luckily, Manchester benefits from a smorgasbord of travel options as this city boasts an excellent bus, train, and tram travel network. It’s also home to Manchester Airport which is less than 7.5 nautical miles away from the city centre.
With frequent and regular trains running from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly station, you can hop off the plane and find yourself in the city centre within just 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can also use one of the many Manchester taxi services to travel to your desired stag do location!
Get your bearings
Once you’ve settled on Manchester as your stag do destination, it’s crucial that you figure out your arrival point in relation to your party/activity venue and hotel. Ensuring you know not only how to get from one place to another, but how long it will take and the most affordable means of transportation will help you to keep costs down and stay on schedule!
Do your research
Once you’ve pinpointed some of the closest bars to either your overnight accommodation or arrival location, you’ll need to do some research into these bars. After all, some bars will not welcome rowdy stag parties into their establishment and you won’t want to disappoint the stag by getting turned away by the bouncer.
Instead, it’s therefore vital that you ensure any venue you want to visit is happy to entertain stag parties. Either contact the venue directly or explore their website for stag and hen do packages to determine whether your preferred bar, restaurant, or activity is happy to host large groups of potentially raucous individuals!
Best stag do activities in Manchester
Keen to blow the stag’s socks off with your party planning? From some of the traditional stag do activities to some of the more unconventional ideas, we’ve searched far and wide for the very best stag do ideas in Manchester! Find out more about bar crawl beauties, bubble football, and bottomless brunches in Manchester by reading more below.
Urban axe throwing
To ensure fairness amongst the ranks, why not turn to unconventional axe throwing instead of football, golf, and darts? At Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing in Manchester, every stag has the chance to seize victory! Located in lively Deansgate area, you can choose from a variety of instructor-led packages with up to ten players on each lane. To wet your whistle, they even provide a selection of beer, wine, and spirits – all of which can be used to wash down their delectable snacks and pizzas.
Bottomless brunch
Eager to start the frivolities early? You’re bound to have considered the traditional bottomless brunch if you’re keen to kick off your weekend of revelry with a boozy bang! You could enjoy free-flowing champagne and smoked salmon at Browns Brasserie & Bar, American pancakes with pints of Amstel at The Pen and Pencil, or sumptuous sirloin steak and red wine at Gaucho.
Bubble football
Often catering to both stag and hen parties, bubble football is a fantastic way to unleash your competitive side in a fun, safe, and inclusive environment. Also known as zorbing, some popular bubble football venues in Manchester include the likes of Zorb Football UK. Offering personalised stag and hen packages, you could add a champagne reception, group t-shirts, and even more irresistible refreshments to your glorious game.
Get gaming
If the soon-to-be groom is more of a gamer than a sports-fanatic, why not consider an immersive gaming experience like those on offer at Immersive Gamebox? Located in Manchester Arndale shopping centre, this venue delivers a unique gaming experience for parties of up to six, complete with motion tracking, touch screens, and even surround sound. With drinks delivered as you play, the fun never ends.
Bar crawl
Classic, yet almost unbeatable. You won’t have to cut your bar crawl short as Manchester city centre alone is home to an impressive 650 licensed premises. Boasting world-famous gay bars in Canal Street, plenty of welcoming sports bars, a plethora of cocktail bars, and many more tempting watering holes, there’s a bar for every taste and personal preference in this superb city.
Best bars in Manchester for stag dos
Knowing which bars, clubs, and pubs are open to stag parties beforehand can make your last night of freedom much more of a success. To help you avoid the venues that’ll turn anyone away wearing matching stag-shirts or ‘groom-to-be’ sashes, we’ve listed some of the best bars in Manchester that welcome scandalous stags!
Revolución de Cuba
With two floors of dancing and live music, you’re sure to hear this Latin-inspired bar before you see it!
Featuring classic Cuban beverages, rum cocktails galore, and even a tiki bar and scintillating shotboards, your stag party will be transported from Manchester to heavenly Havana in an instant.
With wine, beer, and a range of snacks and dishes also on the menu, you could spend all evening in this vivacious Revolución de Cuba venue.
Whiskey Down
Welcoming stag parties with open arms, Whiskey Down is a suave and sophisticated venue with a luxurious finish. Boasting plush booth seating, risqué performances, and even a villain-esque dungeon maze, this premium gentlemen’s club wouldn’t be misplaced in a James Bond film.
Located in the heart of the city centre, a wide variety of spirits, beers, wine, and cocktails are on offer, with their impressive namesake whiskey selection being divided by region.
Flight Club
For a little bit of fantastical fun, we recommend Manchester’s classic Flight Club located on King Street. Offering signature cocktail slushies, shots, sharing cocktails, as well as a selection of beers, wines, and spirits, this bar caters to every palette. It even offers a party package that’s perfect for stags in the form of Social Darts.
Featuring fast-paced games, tasty sharing plates, and a variety of refreshments, you can enjoy all this and more in your own playing area – ideal if your stag party doesn’t want to be disturbed by fellow revellers!
Dog Bowl
Inspired by New York, Dog Bowl combines classic bowling with retro arcades and a list of delicious beverages (wine, spirits, and beer) and juicy burgers sourced from Kong’s Diner. Ideal for large groups looking for either a daytime or evening activity, they’re well-known for their craft beers, full-length bowling lanes, and retro games like Space Invaders and Ms. Pac-Man.
The Bierkeller
How could we not mention our very own energetic establishment? Often listed with some of the best stag do attractions in this city, The Bierkeller is well-known for putting on outstanding oompah shows that attract crowds from far and wide! Paired with authentic Bavarian fare, ice-cold pints of Pilsner, a selection of irresistible cocktails, and endless entertainment options, what’s not to like (love!)?
Book The Bierkeller in Manchester!
Identified your favourite stag do ideas in Manchester? If The Bierkeller stands out to your stag party as a must-visit destination, then don’t hesitate to give us a bell to book your boozy session! With five central locations dotted across the length and breadth of the UK, we’ve been hosting sensational stag and hen dos since we opened our doors in 2010.
Offering lashings of shots, ice-cold steins, and sauerkraut, we bring the authentic Bavarian experience to the rowdy stags of the UK. At our central Manchester venue, you’ll find a Shooter Rack & Roll bar, a beer-focused Around the World bar, and our classic Bierkeller bar that’s overflowing with Bavarian treats and tipples.
Now we’ve covered the food, what about the entertainment? To keep every member of your stag party amused, our Manchester venue boasts 20 TV screens, three large projectors, and one super-sized LED superscreen! More interested in playing pool than watching it? Get a piece of the action by using one of our five American pool tables or gathering around one of our two full-sized shuffleboards.
For a German-themed knees-up in magnificent Manchester that doesn’t disappoint, contact our stag party planning team today. Alternatively, if our Manchester venue isn’t your closest location, why not take a look at our Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham, or Halifax venue? Catering to stag parties across the UK, our doors are always open!