Stag-Do City Guides: Nottingham

Party loving Nottingham is every up-for-it stag’s dream. The first city to relax its drinking laws, Nottingham city centre now boasts the UK’s highest density of licensed premises and thanks to the city’s numerous nursing colleges, not only will you find no shortage of bars but women are hardly in short supply either, allegedly outnumbering men 5 to 1. Gotta like those odds.

Prices are reasonable, with drinks prices lower than most other UK cities. Hit the bars around the canal side, the market square, Hockley or the Lace Market and you’ll find a party-hard atmosphere and plenty of bars churning out the drinks deals. Nightlife in the city is fairly rough and ready but everyone is out for a good time and as long as you stick to the centre you won’t get any trouble. That said Nottingham is known for having the highest murder rate in Britain but this is mostly due to gang-related incidents in outlying residential areas so just avoid places like St Anns and The Meadows at night and you’ll be fine.

DECENT NIGHT CLUBS

Stealth – Massive club with a great sound system and party-hard atmosphere.£7 or £5 in advance, 0115 822 1313, www.stealthattack.co.uk

Dogma – Three-floor venue with extensive drinks list and resident DJs playing a wide range of music. Free entry, 0115 988 6830‎, www.dogmabars.com/Nottingham.html

Oceana – Six themed rooms each with their own atmosphere from laidback funky house to up-for-it cheesy dance tunes. £8.50, 08452 932861, www.oceanaclubs.com/nottingham

Rock City – Down ‘n’ dirty Indie gig venue where alternative anthems rule and drinks prices are reasonable. Typically £3-£5, 0871 3100 000, www.rock-city.co.uk

The Bodega – A huge range of club nights plus drinks offers and a lovely beer garden. Typically £5-£8, 0115 9505078, www.thebodegasocialclub.co.uk

DECENT PLACES TO GET A BEER

Bell Inn – 15^th century listed inn with good selection of real ales and a traditional atmosphere. Old Market Square, 0115 947 5241

Gatehouse – Modern pub with some outside seating and a great range of guest beers. Toll House Hill, 0115 947 3952

The Market Bar – Luxurious but intimate cellar bar with a good selection of premium spirits. Goosegate, 0115 959 9777

Pitcher and Piano – Popular brand of the chain bar in an imaginatively converted Victorian church and attracting a youthful crowd of up-for-it party people. High Pavement, 0115 958 6081

Lincolnshire Poacher – Huge range of real ales with regular brewery evenings and reasonable prices. Mansfield Road, 0115 941 1584

Newshouse – Traditional straightforward boozer popular with the darts crowd – a great place to watch live sport. Canal Street, 0115 950 2419

Olde Trip to Jerusalem – Allegedly Britain’s oldest inn, this 800-year-old pub has basement rooms cut out of the castle rock and a range of resident and guest ales. Brewhouse Yard, 0115 947 3171

Salutation Inn – Friendly oak-beamed inn complete with ghost tours in its haunted caves. Keen supporter of local micro-breweries. Maid Marian Way, 0115 988 1948

The Ropewalk – Recently refurbed laidback pub with quality drinks, a great roast dinner and occasional DJs. Derby Road, 0115 959 6181

The Old Peacock – Student-friendly venue with ridiculously cheap drinks and great hangover-curing breakfasts. Ilkeston Road, 0115  978 2033

STRIP CLUBS

Conrads Lap Dancing Club – Long-running club offering podium dancers and private dances to members only. Register up to 48 hours in advance by phone. £5, Alfreton Road, 0115 978 2179

Senoritas – Nottingham’s only fully licensed table dancing club has topless and naked dancers, pole dancers and a fantasy show. £10, Redfield Way, 0115 986 3211, www.senoritas.co.uk

DECENT RESTAURANTS

Hooters – American and Mexican favourites served by the world-famous well-endowed Hooters girls. London Road, 0115 958 8111

The Balti House – Group-friendly curry house serving all the usuals at fair prices. Heathcoat Street, 0115 947 2871

Bluu – Lively brasserie/bar where you can be as loud as you like while you tuck in to modern British dishes. Broadway, 0115 950 5359

Big Wok – Oriental buffet restaurant serving all-you-can-eat Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian for just £9.99. Upper Parliament Street, 0115 958 3666

Antalya – Proving that Turkish food is more than just kebabs, this relaxed restaurant serves no-nonsense specialities at good prices. Forman Street, 0115 941 8420

ALL NIGHT FOOD

Nottingham Kebab House – Great kebabs and pizza for takeaway and delivery. Alfreton Road, 0115 970 0777

Arena Kebab House – Kebabs, curries, pizzas and burgers delivered to a wide area and available for takeaway. Southwell Road, 0115 911 5318

Bombay Bicycle Shop – Indian takeaway open til late and serving a great range of curries. Alfreton Road, 0115 9786 309

TRAVEL

Everything in Nottingham city centre is easily walkable but late at night if you’re staying out of the action, take a taxi to avoid inadvertently walking into the “wrong” area. Motorvation Taxis (0845 543 5403), Cab Line (0115 9225 226) and Rapid Minibuses 0115 9122 771) are reliable and all accept groups.

Tourist Information: 0844 477 5678‎, www.visitnottingham.com

East Midlands Airport: 0871 919 9000, www.eastmidlandsairport.com

Nottingham Railway Station: 0845 712 5678, www.nationalrail.co.uk

ESSENTIAL VOCAB

Ay-up midduk – Hello

Grrumminn thenn – Your round

Tarrah – Goodbye

ESSENTIAL TRIVIA

Nottingham was the first UK city to install Braille signs in its shopping centre.

The bell in the city’s council house clock is said to be the loudest in Britain and weighs 10.5 tons.

Nottingham Forest were the first football team to wear shin pads, invented by player Samuel Widdowson in 1874.

Last Night of Freedom pretty much own Nottingham stag weekends – why not let them put together your perfect last night of freedom – prices from £92pp for 2 nights & Lap club entry.