Southampton Stag Do

Southampton is best known for waving off the Titanic and giving the world Craig David. Neither is a great omen for a weekend away, but a Southampton stag do is much better than that. It’s a busy port city with a big student population, a lively night out, and the Solent and the New Forest on its doorstep for the daytime stuff.

It suits groups spread across the South who want a good night without travelling far, and a stag who’d be perfectly happy spending the day on the water. The centre is compact too, so you spend the night drinking rather than travelling between bars, and the lads who get lost can usually find their way back to Bedford Place by following the noise.

Being on the coast, the water is the big draw. Sailing, powerboating and other watersports run on the Solent, and a sea fishing trip is a good shout for a group that wants a quieter few hours before the night out. Whoever catches the smallest fish buys the first round.

Outside the city, the New Forest and the surrounding countryside are home to the usual stag favourites, from paintball to quad biking. Back in town, the SeaCity Museum tells the story of the Titanic, and long stretches of the medieval town walls are still standing. You’ll be surprised how many of the lads quietly enjoy that bit, though none of them will admit it.

Bedford Place is the heart of the night out, a street lined with pubs, cocktail bars and late venues, so you can do a whole night without walking far. Oxford Street is good for a sit-down dinner and a few drinks first. Ocean Village has bars by the marina for an early pint by the water, and Portswood is where the students go.

My plan would be dinner around Oxford Street, a stroll up to Bedford Place and then see where the stag ends up. Somewhere along the way he will attempt a Craig David song. Let him have his moment, then film it for the wedding speech.

Southampton Central has trains from London Waterloo and along the South Coast, and the M3 and M27 make it easy by car. Once you’re there, the centre is walkable, and taxis cover the rest. Ferries run from the city over to the Isle of Wight if you fancy a change of scene.

Portsmouth is just along the coast for a similar weekend, and Bournemouth is close by if the group wants a beach thrown in.

• Watch the calendar. The Southampton International Boat Show takes over the waterfront in September, and the city gets busy when Saints are at home, so book rooms early for a stag weekend in Southampton on those dates.
• Bring ID. It’s a student city, so most bars and clubs check.
• Have a plan B for the water. Boat and watersports trips depend on the weather, so ask what happens if they’re called off.
• Keep the fancy dress simple. Full costumes can get a group knocked back at the door. Dress up the stag and give the rest a few stag do accessories instead.

I’d base the group in the city centre, as close to Bedford Place as you can manage. It’s the heart of the night out, a street lined with pubs, cocktail bars and late venues, so the walk home is short and nobody has to negotiate with a taxi rank. Oxford Street, where you’ll want dinner, is part of the same compact centre, and the whole lot is walkable.

If the plan leans towards the water, Ocean Village is worth a look as well. Its bars sit by the marina, which makes it a nice spot for an early pint, and taxis cover the rest of the city when the legs give up. I’d leave Portswood to the students.

My practical tip: watch the calendar before you book beds. The Southampton International Boat Show takes over the waterfront in September, and the city gets busy when Saints are at home, so book rooms early on those dates.

Friday Get the train from London Waterloo into Southampton Central, or come in on the M3 or M27. Drop the bags and head to Ocean Village for an early pint by the marina. Then I’d book a comedy night to get the group laughing before a gentle first round of Bedford Place.

Saturday Daytime is for the New Forest. Book paintballing or quad biking nearby and let the stag take a few for the team. If the weather’s kind, sailing, powerboating or sea fishing on the Solent is the other option, but water trips depend on the weather, so have a plan B. In the evening, it’s a sit-down dinner and a few drinks around Oxford Street, then the stroll up to Bedford Place for the main event. Finish at the casino if anyone still has money. Keep the fancy dress to the stag, because full costumes can get a group knocked back, and bring ID, because most bars and clubs check.

Sunday Slow it right down. I’d walk the long stretches of the medieval town walls that are still standing, then duck into the SeaCity Museum for the story of the Titanic. If the lads fancy a change of scene before heading home, catch the ferry over to the Isle of Wight and let the sea air do the work.