My Northampton Stag Do: Real Customer Review

Real Reviews: We often recommend Northampton as the ultimate "convenient" location, but does it actually deliver on a big weekend? Below, two different Best Men share their diaries of how they turned an underdog destination into a legendary weekend.

Northampton isn't usually the first name on the list when planning a stag do. Usually, it's picked for practical reasons—it's smack in the middle of the UK, making it the perfect meeting point for groups spread across the country.

But as these two reviews show, choosing convenience doesn't mean sacrificing the fun. From fighting off the undead to VIP nightclub treatment, here is what really happens on a Northampton stag weekend.

Review #1: Zombies, Zorb Football & Craft Beer

The Planner: Anonymous
The Vibe: Action-packed & Pub Crawls

I honestly never had any intention of booking my stag weekend in Northampton; it just kind of ended up there! I could say it was because of an interest in footwear (Northampton is famous for shoes, right?) or keeping within our budget. But mainly, with my mates spread out all over the north of England, it was the most convenient meeting point.

That wouldn’t be entirely true, though. I actually had my Northampton stag do because of the zombie apocalypse!

Friday: The Zorb Wars

We booked into the Ibis Hotel Central Northampton, which was exactly what we needed: clean, cheap, and right in the middle of the action.

To kick things off, Naomi from The Stag and Hen Experience recommended Zorb Football. I honestly never had a clue such a thing existed! We jumped in taxis to the venue and were immediately kitted out in giant inflatable bubbles.

It was hilarious. We spent ninety minutes launching ourselves at each other, bouncing off the walls (and the floor), barely bothering with the actual football. It was the perfect ice-breaker for the lads.

That night, we kept it "low-key" at The Old Bank pub. It used to be a branch of Barclays but now serves decent pints and pub grub. Despite our best intentions for an early night, the atmosphere took over, and we didn't stumble back to the hotel until 1am.

Saturday: Surviving the Undead

The main reason we came here was the Zombie Apocalypse Experience. I’m a massive fan of The Walking Dead, so being chased by realistic zombies through an abandoned area was my dream activity.

It didn't disappoint. The makeup was terrifying, the ammo was scarce, and the adrenaline was real. It was a mix of escape room puzzles and survival horror. If you get caught, you get "turned" and have to hunt your mates!

The Saturday Night Crawl

We finished the weekend with a proper pub crawl. We started at the Maule Collective, a cool microbrewery with a beer garden, before trying to be posh at the Mail Coach. We eventually found our spiritual home at The Optimist, which had a buzzing atmosphere, before ending the night at NB’s nightclub just around the corner.

Verdict: Convenient, affordable, and absolutely epic.

Review #2: Keith's Last Night of Freedom

The Planner: Keith's Best Man
The Vibe: Hassle-free logistics & VIP treatment

Stag weekends can be tricky to organise. Especially when you are trying to arrange for twelve lads to arrive from ten different locations. It wasn’t until I looked at a map to figure out an equal distance for everyone that Northampton reared its head.

Although I hadn't considered it initially, as soon as I spoke to Steve from The Stag and Hen Experience, it became clear this was the hidden gem we needed.

The Meet-Up

Because everyone was arriving at different times, we set up camp in a central Guest House and headed to the pub across the road. We had planned a massive bar crawl for Friday, but the local pub was so welcoming—and the beer was so reasonably priced compared to London—that we ended up staying there until closing time! It was a great way for the different friendship groups to bond without the pressure of a big club night.

Saturday: Keith vs. Zombies

Like the group above, we also opted for the Zombie Experience. Keith (the groom) is a huge fan of George Romero films, so this was a surprise for him.

It was visceral. Two hours in a forest being stalked by the undead? Yes, please. It felt like being dropped into a movie. Every step could be your last. For a group of lads who usually just play FIFA, it was a genuine rush.

The VIP Treatment

For the big Saturday night out, I wanted to take the hassle out of the equation. We bounced between a few bars—cheap chain pubs, cocktail joints, and everything in between.

But the pièce de résistance was the nightclub. On Steve’s advice, I had pre-booked a VIP Booth and Drinks Package.

I hadn't considered booking a booth before, but for a group of twelve, it was a godsend. We skipped the massive queue, walked straight to our reserved seats, and had drinks waiting for us. No fighting for space at the bar, just table service and a great base of operations for the night.

Verdict: Northampton turned out to be an amazing stag destination—fun, full of things to do, and with a friendly atmosphere often missing from bigger cities.

Both of these groups proved that you don't need to fly to Vegas to have a legendary time. If you want a weekend that is easy to get to, kind on the wallet, and packed with action, get in touch with us to plan your own Northampton Stag Do.

When all was said and done, my Northampton stag weekend was absolutely epic. It was affordable, convenient, and packed with action. I would recommend the same to anyone else in a heartbeat!

Inspired by this story? Get in touch with The Stag and Hen Experience to plan your own celebration, or check out our Northampton Stag Do Guide to explore what else this fantastic town has to offer.