Norwich Stag Do

Alan Partridge did his best to put people off, but a Norwich stag do is a cracking choice. The city calls itself A Fine City, it’s packed with old pubs, and it sits on the edge of the Norfolk Broads, which means you can do a pub crawl by boat. The stag gets to be captain. Nobody said he’d be a good one.

It’s a bit out on its own in the east, so I’d treat it as a full weekend rather than a day trip. That’s no hardship when the beer is this good.

Prince of Wales Road is the main clubbing strip, running down from the centre towards the station, with clubs and late bars packed close together. Tombland, by the cathedral, has some smarter bars for an early drink. The Norwich Lanes, around St Benedicts Street, are the place for cocktails and independent bars.

Norwich is a proper ale city. The Fat Cat on West End Street has twice been named CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year, and it’s the kind of place where the stag can pretend he knows what a porter is. The Golden Triangle, west of the centre, is full of locals’ pubs too. A pub crawl round a few old boozers before you hit Prince of Wales Road is my favourite way to do a Norwich Saturday.

The Broads are the reason to come. You can hire a day boat from places like Wroxham, cruise the rivers and stop at waterside pubs along the way. Somebody has to stay sober enough to steer, so choose wisely, and don’t choose the stag. If you want something calmer, fishing on the Broads is a gentle cure for a sore head.

Back on land, the countryside around Norwich has space for clay pigeon shooting and other outdoor activities. Great Yarmouth is on the coast nearby, with seaside arcades and a racecourse if you fancy a day at the horse racing. Norwich City play at Carrow Road, so check whether there’s a home game on your weekend.

Trains run into Norwich from London Liverpool Street, with connections towards Cambridge and the Midlands. Driving is straightforward, though the last stretch is on A roads, so allow some slack. Once you’re in, the centre is compact and most of the bars and pubs are walkable, as long as everyone remembers which way the river goes.

• Boat rules. Whoever is in charge of the boat needs to be sober. The hire firm will brief you, so listen even if the stag doesn’t.
• Bring ID. The Prince of Wales Road clubs check, and a lost stag at the door is a long night for everyone.
• Drinking in public. Police in UK city centres can usually stop you drinking in the street, so save it for the pubs.
• Best months. The Broads are at their best from late spring to early autumn. A winter Norwich stag weekend works better as a pub-focused one.
• Comparing options? Cambridge is the other big stag option in the region, or see all our UK stag do destinations.

I’d base the lads in the centre. It’s compact and most of the bars and pubs are walkable, so you can do the whole night on foot. My pick would be somewhere between Tombland and Prince of Wales Road. Tombland, by the cathedral, gives you the smarter bars for an early drink, and Prince of Wales Road, the main clubbing strip, runs down towards the station, so you’re close to the late bars and handy for the train home on Sunday.

If your group is more cocktails than clubs, stay nearer the Norwich Lanes around St Benedicts Street, with the independent bars on your doorstep and The Fat Cat on West End Street within reach.

My practical tip: treat Norwich as a full weekend, not a day trip. It’s a bit out on its own in the east, and if anyone is driving, the last stretch is on A roads, so allow some slack before check in.

Friday Get the train in from London Liverpool Street and start gently with an early drink in Tombland by the cathedral. Then wander into the Norwich Lanes round St Benedicts Street for cocktails and independent bars. Keep it civilised. Saturday involves a boat.

Saturday Head out to Wroxham and hire a day boat on the Norfolk Broads, cruising the rivers and stopping at waterside pubs along the way. Whoever is in charge of the boat must be sober, so pick your skipper before the first pint, and don’t pick the stag. If it’s winter, or the group wants something rowdier, swap the boat for paintball or bubble football. Back in town, go for a proper ale at The Fat Cat on West End Street and a few locals’ pubs in the Golden Triangle, where the stag can pretend he knows what a porter is. Finish on Prince of Wales Road among the clubs and late bars. Bring ID, because the clubs check.

Sunday Fishing on the Broads is a gentle cure for a sore head, and nobody has to talk. If there’s a home game, Norwich City are at Carrow Road. Or take the lads to Great Yarmouth for the seaside arcades, and a day at the racecourse if there’s a meeting on.