Medieval Banquet Stag Do

A medieval stag do is a night where you eat too much, drink out of goblets, and get heckled by a man in tights. A banquet is usually a show and a dinner rolled into one. There’s a long table, several courses, plenty to drink, and a cast of knights, jesters and minstrels keeping the whole thing moving.

The details depend on the venue. Some go big on sword fights and stunts, others are more of a rowdy feast with songs and audience games. Either way the stag tends to end up as the centre of attention, which is exactly where he belongs.

It’s dinner and entertainment in one booking, which makes life as best man much easier. Nobody has to pick a restaurant, nobody has to find a show, and the cast does the hard work of getting a mixed group laughing.

It suits every kind of stag party. Dads, uncles, the lad who doesn’t drink and the lad who drinks enough for both of them can all have a good night. There’s no skill involved beyond lifting a goblet and not wearing too much of the gravy.

And the stag gets the royal treatment. Tell the venue it’s a stag do and there’s a good chance he’ll be picked on, crowned, challenged or made to do something daft in front of the whole hall. That’s the bit everyone will talk about at the wedding.

• Dress up. Some venues hand out costumes, others leave it to you. A crown for the stag and a tunic or two for the lads changes the whole mood. Have a rummage through our stag do costumes.
• Ask about the drinks. Some banquets include wine or mead with dinner, others run a bar. Know which before you set the kitty.
• Mention dietary needs early. Set menus are the norm, so flag the vegetarian when you book, not when the roast arrives.
• Pick your table. If you want the stag involved, ask to sit near the action. If he’s shy, put him at the back and hope for the best.
• Behave (a bit). You’ll often share the hall with other groups. Loud is expected. Heckling the jester for two hours is not.
• Toast often. Nominate a toastmaster for the table and give him a list of things to toast. The stag’s dodgy ex-haircuts are a good start.

A banquet is a perfect Saturday night after an active day. Spend the afternoon at archery or axe throwing so the theme carries through, then feast like a king. If you fancy something with a Scottish accent, a Highland Games stag do has a similar spirit. A historic city like York fits the mood nicely too.

Whatever you pair it with, don’t plan anything strenuous for the morning after. Mead has a long memory.