It’s a Knockout Stag Do

If you remember the old telly show, you know the drill. Giant inflatables, ridiculous costumes, foam everywhere and grown adults falling over for points. An It’s a Knockout stag weekend brings all of that to your group, with the stag usually first in line for the worst of it.

Providers run a series of team games on a big outdoor site. Expect inflatable obstacle courses, races in oversized costumes, slippery challenges and plenty of water and foam. The exact games vary from one provider to the next, so check what’s included before you book.

Nobody needs to be good at anything. In fact it helps if you aren’t. The sportiest lad in the group slides off the inflatable just like everyone else, and watching him do it is half the entertainment. Tell the provider it’s a stag do and the groom will usually get singled out for extra punishment, which is exactly what you’re paying for.

It’s a team game, so it gets a mixed group working together fast. Put the stag’s school mates against the work lot and the rivalry sorts itself out within about five minutes.

And it’s very, very silly. That’s the whole point. There’s nothing quite like the sight of the groom in a giant foam costume, trying to carry a bucket of water across a wobbly bridge while his mates fire a hose at him.

• Clothes you don’t love. You will get wet and almost certainly covered in foam. Old trainers and a t-shirt are ideal.
• A towel and a change. You’ll want dry clothes for the drive back or the pub afterwards.
• Costumes. Many providers supply the silly costumes for the games. If you want the stag to stand out even more, pick him something from our stag do costumes.
• Sun cream and a waterproof. It’s outdoors, and this is Britain, so bring both.
• Drink after, not before. Inflatables and pints don’t mix, and most providers won’t let anyone take part if they’ve clearly been drinking. Book it for the morning or early afternoon, then hit the pub with a story to tell.

Group size is flexible, but the more of you there are, the better the team games work. Ask the provider about minimum numbers when you enquire.

Loved the team spirit? Our team games stag do page has more of the same, and bubble football gives you all the falling over without the foam. For the evening, a pub crawl keeps the competition going, with the losing team buying the first round.

When you enquire, ask where the site is. Plenty are on the edge of town, so check how long it takes to get back into the centre and book a minibus if you need one.

Wherever you go next, make sure the stag gets the worst seat in the minibus. He’ll still be dripping.