Brighton stag do

Brighton is the easiest seaside stag in the country if you're in the south. It's a short train ride from London and most of the south-east, the beach is right next to the bars, and the city has the energy of somewhere much bigger.

It's a good fit for a group that wants a bit of everything. The Lanes and North Laine have brilliant pubs and food, the seafront is made for a summer afternoon, and the late nights are as long as you want them to be.

Brighton is a tolerant, easy-going city, and stag and hen groups are a normal sight at weekends. Most people won't mind you at all.

The council takes late-night drinking seriously, though. Much of the centre is a special licensing zone where new late venues are hard to open, and some new bars have agreed to turn away stag and hen groups as a condition of getting a licence. Brighton is also the UK's best-known LGBT city, and Kemptown is the heart of it. Enjoy it, but don't treat it as a novelty.

The seafront clubs and the bars around West Street take stag groups, but door staff are wary of big groups of men, especially later on. Split into fours and sixes before you reach the door.

Some bars in The Lanes and the smarter cocktail places have no-stag policies or simply won't let a large group in. Mixed groups get in much more easily.

Fancy dress works on the seafront and in the party bars. It won't get you into the better pubs and cocktail bars, and some newer venues explicitly ban it.

The seafront and the arches

Bars and clubs under the promenade, right on the beach. Brilliant in summer.

West Street

The main late-night strip, busy with clubs and stag and hen groups at weekends.

The Lanes

Narrow streets of pubs, restaurants and cocktail bars. More grown-up and better for dinner.

North Laine

Independent pubs, craft beer and a mostly local crowd.

Kemptown

East of the pier, the heart of LGBT Brighton, with good pubs and restaurants.

The beach

Pebbles, sunshine if you're lucky, and bars right behind you. The main event on a summer weekend.

Brighton Palace Pier

Arcades, rides and terrible food. Good for an hour of nonsense.

Paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing

Watersports companies operate along the seafront and run group sessions.

Football at the Amex

Brighton and Hove Albion home games are easy to reach by train from the centre.

Comedy

Brighton has a strong comedy scene. Check each club's policy on stag groups before you book.

Friday

Arrive at Brighton station, drop the bags and walk down to the seafront. Dinner in The Lanes, then West Street and the seafront clubs.

Saturday

Breakfast, then a watersports session or the pier. Afternoon on the beach, dinner in North Laine, then out again.

Sunday

A walk along the seafront to Hove, a big lunch and the train home.

Hotels on and near the seafront keep everything walkable. Big self-catering houses are easy to find in Kemptown and Hove, but many ban parties, so read the rules.

Summer weekends and Pride in early August are the busiest and most expensive times. Check the calendar.

Prices change, so check before you book.

• The sea is colder and stronger than it looks. Don't swim after drinking.
• Seagulls will steal your chips. They're not joking.
• Book Saturday dinner in advance. The best places fill up early in summer.