Plymouth Stag Do

Where there’s a port, there’s a party, and a Plymouth stag do proves the point. A Plymouth stag weekend gives you the lot. It’s a proper seafaring city with a historic harbour, a big naval history and a waterfront full of pubs. You get the sea on one side, Dartmoor on the other and plenty to do in between.

This is the city where Francis Drake supposedly finished his game of bowls on the Hoe before seeing off the Spanish Armada. I’d tell the stag the story, then remind him he still has to be on time for his own wedding.

The Barbican is where I’d spend most of the weekend. It’s the old harbour quarter, with cobbled streets, waterfront pubs and bars, and it stays lively late into the night. It’s perfect for a self-guided pub crawl because you’re never more than a short walk from the next one.

Union Street used to be the city’s famous sailors’ strip. It’s quieter now than in its heyday, but there are still clubs open late for the lads who refuse to go to bed.

For a smarter evening, Royal William Yard is a grand old naval yard turned into waterfront bars and restaurants. Book a table there for the group meal and the stag might behave himself until pudding.

Start with gin. The Plymouth Gin Distillery on the Barbican has been making gin since the 18th century, and it runs tours that end, sensibly, at the bar. If the gin tour gives the lads ideas, a cocktail making class is the natural next step.

Then get out on the water. Boat trips and sea fishing trips run from the harbour, and mackerel fishing is easy for beginners. Whoever catches the least buys the first round. Whoever gets seasick buys the second.

Dartmoor is right on the doorstep for hiking, climbing and plenty of other outdoor activities. It’s a great way to sweat out Friday night, though nobody will thank you for the alarm.

If there’s a home game on, an afternoon watching Plymouth Argyle at Home Park is a good way to build up to the evening.

Trains run to Plymouth from London Paddington, Bristol and the rest of the South West, and the A38 links the city to the M5 at Exeter. Plymouth has no airport of its own, so it’s train or car for most groups.

The Barbican, the Hoe and the city centre are all walkable. You’ll want a taxi to Royal William Yard if the shoes aren’t up to it. Exeter and Torquay are both close if you’d like to add another stop, so check out our Exeter stag do and Torquay stag do pages too.

• Keep drinks in the pubs. Like most UK cities, Plymouth has areas where police can take drinks off people in the street.
• Sea conditions. Fishing and boat trips depend on the weather. Have a back-up plan in case it’s blowing a gale.
• Best months. Summer is best for the harbour and the water, but the Barbican pubs keep going all year.
• Fancy dress. Sailor outfits are almost too easy here. Check ahead with smarter bars before turning up in costume.
• ID. Bring photo ID for the clubs.

The Barbican is where I’d spend most of the weekend, so it’s where I’d sleep too. It’s the old harbour quarter, with cobbled streets and waterfront pubs and bars that stay lively late into the night, and the Plymouth Gin Distillery is right there for Saturday. You’re never more than a short walk from the next pint.

If you can’t get beds on the Barbican, the city centre or somewhere near the Hoe works nearly as well. The Barbican, the Hoe and the centre are all walkable, and Union Street’s late clubs aren’t far for the lads who refuse to go to bed.

My practical tip: base yourselves in that walkable triangle and the only taxi you’ll need is out to Royal William Yard for the group meal. Plymouth has no airport, so most groups arrive by train or car.

Friday Get the train from London Paddington or Bristol and head straight for the Barbican. Do a self-guided pub crawl round the waterfront pubs, keeping the drinks inside, because police can take drinks off people in the street.

Saturday Start with gin. The Plymouth Gin Distillery runs tours that end, sensibly, at the bar. Then get out on the water for mackerel fishing from the harbour, which is easy for beginners. Whoever catches the least buys the first round. The trips depend on the weather, so if it’s blowing a gale, the back-up is Plymouth Argyle at Home Park if there’s a home game on. In the evening, taxi out to Royal William Yard, the old naval yard now full of waterfront bars and restaurants, for a group meal that might keep the stag behaved until pudding. Then head back for Union Street, where the clubs open late. Bring photo ID, and check ahead with the smarter bars if the stag is in his sailor outfit.

Sunday Two choices. The keen lads can head out to Dartmoor for a hike to sweat out the night before. Everyone else can stroll up to the Hoe, where Drake supposedly finished his game of bowls before seeing off the Armada. Tell the stag the story, then remind him he still has to be on time for his own wedding, and finish with a slow pint back on the Barbican before the train home.