Our Top Ideas for Hen and Stag Parties in Newcastle
Welcome to your epic guide for a Stag or Hen weekend in Newcastle. No more need to stress about organising the ultimate weekend, we’ve got you covered! Make yourself a nice cuppa, relax and read on to find out more about our top ideas and you can even secure yourself some sweet offers!
Once you’ve decided on Newcastle, I am sure I don’t need to tell you how much fun a night “doon the toon” is and you’ve probably already heard about all the amazing bars on the Diamond Strip! I’d definitely recommend you to follow in the footsteps of hundreds of previous Hen and Stag parties to visit Newcastle's famous bridges and snap a cliché pic to commemorate an unforgettable weekend.
Enough said, let me dive into our top tips for any Hen/Stag weekend in Newcastle.
We’ve selected a few great daytime and evening activities for you and kick off the blog with Local Wine School.
Local Wine School
Born in Newcastle, Local Wine School is now a business with over 40 locations across the UK all focused on bringing the wonders of wine to you. Their courses and tastings are perfect for everybody from the complete beginner to the budding enthusiast, and wine trade professionals.
Newcastle was the first Wine School of the network and is now run by David. Founded in 2000, David has taken the business to new heights over the last 7 years.
What they do
Next to regular wine events and World of Wine courses that explore all there is to know about wine, they also offer one-off events, like the Introductory Wine Tasting perfect for a Hen or Stag weekend.
A great opportunity to learn more about “what influences how wine tastes?”
Over the course of two hours, you’ll dive into understanding how to taste wine like a professional, how to assess quality objectively and you get to find out for yourself whether a £5.00 bottle of supermarket wine is every bit as good as a £25.00 bottle of fine wine from an independent merchant.
The Local Wine School can come to your venue or assist you in finding a venue suitable for the tasting event.
Great for
A bride or groom who enjoys drinking wine and wants to learn something new.
Price point
The cost is £300 at your venue of choice for up to 12 people, which equates to £30 per person. Any additional people are £30 per head. A venue for the tasting would be approximately £100 in addition.
You can book via email enquiry and you pay a 50% deposit with the remaining balance paid a week before the event.
Additional extras
The tasting involves 6 different wines and also includes a few nibbles.
They can make a wine tasting bespoke to your demands. Does the bride love Australian wines? No problem. The tasting can revolve around Australian wines only.
For the lover of Malbec (that would be me!), a Malbec-focused tasting would be an option. Sign me up!
Just speak to David and let him know about your requirements and they will design a tasting that’ll bring joy to your Stag and Hen Party Weekend.
A tasting of 6 different sparkling wines, including Champagne, exploring the different styles of sparkling wine and explaining why they are different would cost £360.00 for up to 12 people and then £30.00 per head.
All of the wine, the glass and the tasting notes will be supplied by the Local Wine School.
Good to know
Local Wine school is independent of any wine merchants so you are guaranteed to get unbiased insights.
Their philosophy is not to tell you what to like but help you to understand why you like what you like.
The tastings are informal and relaxed. They’re run by independent qualified tutors that don’t try and sell you wine, but they will tell you which wine you’re drinking and how much it costs and where to buy it from if you happen to discover your new favourite tipple.
Another must-visit in Newcastle is Blackfriars. Especially if you want to take your taste buds on a weekend to remember.
Blackfriars
Blackfriars restaurant first opened its doors in 2001 and is part of a small restaurant group owned by Andy and Sam Hook. Based in a medieval hall erected in 1239, Blackfriars is the oldest dining hall in the UK.
What they do
Blackfriars offers a number of fantastic options well suited for any Stag or Hen Party. From a medieval banquet that serves up to 50 people, to different tastings such as wine, beer or whiskey tastings that can be combined with catering or a cooking course, Blackfriars has a wide variety of choices and you’re guaranteed to find an activity for your bride/groom.
The cooking courses are held by the in-house cookery school offering a wide range of different themes from dessert masterclasses, bread making and world foods such as Thai or Italian, there is something for everyone.
Great for
Any bride or groom who is an aspiring food and drinks connoisseur
Price point
£29 per person for any of the tasting sessions - which last for around 90 mins
£32.50 per person for Wine and Cheese
£35 per person to cater the events
The cookery school starts from £45 pp depending on the session.
There is a £10 per person deposit to secure the booking with the balance to be paid a week before the event.
Additional extras
Based on the different tastings, you’ll be placed in different rooms. They have a dedicated whiskey room for the whiskey tasting which offers a unique experience.
On the menu, you will find gutsy, traditional British food using seasonal produce from the local farms and producers. They have an award-winning a la carte menu that changes regularly.
Good to know
Blackfriars is extremely popular and books out quite quickly, so make sure to get a booking early on.
The staff at Blackfriars want to make your experience unforgettable so make sure to speak to them about your needs and they will help you to make the best decision to create unforgettable memories.
If you fancy a bit more action for your weekend we have found just the right place for you.
Turboventure
Turboventure is a passion business for Richard. Formerly in the military, Richard turned his affinity for military vehicles and outdoor activities into a business that allows him to focus on what he loves. In the past, he ran a garage specialising in off-road vehicles and prepared Landrovers to go to the Himalayas on military missions. How amazing is that?
Turboventure is based on the site of a country-house hotel occupying a former farm with their head office set up in a cowshed.
What they do
They are offering a number of different activities such as paintball, clay-pigeon shooting or archery, but the one stand-out activity they offer is Quad Biking.
Turboventure’s Quad biking is a really extensive experience where Richard and his team will get you stuck with your quad bike and teach you how to get unstuck. Beware! It will get muddy.
They also offer tank driving with amazing tanks that can be driven on private concrete roads and hills.
Turboventure really offers an immersive experience with the Jungle Challenge being 3-4 hours of quad biking and you’ll get to take the bikes on demanding terrain. It’s promising to be an unforgettable experience.
You can also book fun add-on activities such as blindfold driving.
Great for
Anyone who enjoys adventures and is willing to push themselves out of their comfort zone.
Price point
The quad biking woodland wonder tour is £80 per person and the jungle challenge is £120 per person.
You call to book and discuss the best options.
10% deposit on booking with the balance due 2 weeks before via bank transfer.
Additional extras
Richard and his team really ensure that the service they offer is right for you. They even go as far as recommending you a competitor if they feel that you’d have a better experience with them. We love this approach and it shows how much they care about delivering an exceptional experience.
As part of the quad biking experiences, you’ll be provided with helmets and overalls and you’ll get thorough safety instructions.
You’ll also receive the training before they get you out in the challenging terrain. Only when you’re confident you’ll be taken into the jungle. The training ground in itself is a lot of fun and includes challenges like a maze.
If you want, transport can be organised for you at an additional cost but cheaper than organising it yourself.
Good to know
No matter which experience you choose, you’ll have an expert with you to guide you through the activity.
Furthermore, all the equipment is of high quality and maintained at the highest standard.
Turboventure prides themselves in their level of attention and care. They really put their heart and soul into ensuring you have a great time and will make your day an unforgettable experience by tailoring the offering to your needs. There are options for catering from a local pub if you want to make it a full day experience. Richard and the team often take their visitors down to the pub after your activities for a relaxed drink to round off the day.
Bring some walking boots rather than sneakers if you have any. Mud is part of the experience!
When it comes to evening activities you surely won’t have to struggle to find fun in Newcastle. The city is made for a Hen or Stag weekend. One of the activities we’d recommend is Cosy Joes.
Cosy Joes
Cosy Joes, is a karaoke bar in the centre of Newcastle, on 'cheesy street', in the middle of a good Newcastle night out. A very popular destination for Stag and Hens.
What they do
Cosy Joes consists of two parts. The Party Bar on the ground floor and a
Karaoke bar upstairs with the main stage where you can channel your inner “Gloria Gaynor” in front of a crowd if you feel up for it.
You can enter the downstairs area without a booking but it tends to fill up quickly.
Cosy Joes also has 6 pre-bookable pods, which hold between 4 and 25 people, where you can have your own private karaoke party. All the songs are selectable on the screen in the room, and you can order drinks to be delivered to the room at the push of a button (so you can “push the button and let them know”). They do take walk-ins for the pods if you want to chance your luck, but I wouldn’t risk it with a Stag or Hen Party.
Great for
Anyone who loves a good time and loves to sing their heart out!
Price point
You can book a pod for £7.50 per person for 1 hour or £10 per person for 2 hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Bank Holidays.
Sunday to Thursday the Karaoke Pods are only £2.50 per person for the hour! What a bargain and a perfect way to start or round off an unforgettable weekend!
They do take walk-ins but get booked up quickly for the weekends, so it’s best to book in advance. Fill out the form on the website or call/email Lisa (01912322234 / lisa@cosyjoes.co.uk) and they help you to sort out bespoke requirements for the group.
Additional extras
The rooms can be decorated for a Hen or Stag party if desired. Just speak to Lisa about this.
Cosy Joes also offers group packages such as the Ruby package that includes:
Large-sized room, 2 hours room hire, 70cl Smirnoff & draught mixer, 2 bottles of bubbly
2 cocktail pitchers and 2 bottles of house wine for £280 based on 15 people.
Good to know
Cosy Joes doesn’t have accessibility for wheelchairs upstairs (where the karaoke main stage and pods are).
By now you should be convinced that Newcastle is definitely the perfect city for any Hen and Stag Party, but we know not everyone likes to organise all the activities. Don’t sweat it though as we’ve got you covered. If you prefer to leave it to the experts then we can’t recommend Stags vs Hens enough.
Stags vs Hens
Stags vs Hens was found by Tom who started up right before the pandemic! Talking about timing, eh?
Tom previously worked for large Hen and Stag party providers and often received the feedback that people weren’t happy with their experience. He realised it can be done better which led him to set up Stags vs Hens.
They offer trips to a number of locations but Tom is a Newcastle native so he offers some unique experiences for the city.
What they do
Stags vs Hens offer a wide range of fully tried and tested activities where they have negotiated the absolute best rates with you, the customers in mind. They also have pre-negotiated deals with well-known Hotels and Apartments so you can benefit from amazing accommodation providers at an affordable price.
Stags vs Hens tailor a weekend specifically to your needs and pride themselves in their customer service.
Great for
Anyone who wants to have an unforgettable weekend in Newcastle and wants to save themselves the hassle of planning it all alone.
Price point
The price depends on the activities and accommodation you choose but Tom guarantees a fair price.
The minimum group size is 7-8 people. You pay a £25 per person deposit when booking.
Additional extras
When you choose Stags vs Hens to organise your weekend in Newcastle they will host a bar crawl for you that is free of charge and includes free nightlife passes. How awesome is that? Sign me up!
If you have several people on the Stag/Hen Party but not everyone wants to partake in all of the activities it can be quite complicated to organise. Tom and his team will sort this out for you and ensure everyone’s individual price will be calculated correctly.
Good to know
Stags vs Hens use a trust account to keep your money secure.
Unlike other Hen and Stag providers, they will also give you all details for the weekend. They’ll tell you where you’ll be staying and who the hosts of your activities are and when everything will take place so you don’t have to worry about any of that.
So “Howay man” and get on the ideas for Hen and Stag parties in Newcastle!
We’re super excited for you to try the amazing activities we’ve selected for you in this blog. Let us know your favourite and make sure to tag us in your adventures on Instagram.
If you’re looking for additional inspiration, check out our blog on Ideas for Hen Parties in Brighton, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, York, Cardiff or Liverpool. Almost all the activities in the Liverpool blog are available nationwide, so don’t let the title confuse you. For more nationwide ideas, visit this blog.
Don’t want to organise all activities by yourself and let the professionals handle it? Check out these amazing Stag and Hen weekend providers in this blog.
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