Brighton has always been popular with stag and hen parties. But Lucy Pearce asks whether this popularity comes at a price.

It seems you can’t have a Saturday night out in Brighton without bumping into a stag or hen party. Groups of women don their ‘L’ plates and silk sashes while scores of men pour into the bars and clubs wearing mankinis.

This month Hen Night HQ, Britain’s biggest online seller of hen party packs, said Brighton is its number one destination in the UK with 25% more bookings this year compared to last.

Ladies are ditching fancy foreign trips for cheaper locations, with Brighton taking the top spot – beating hen and stag favourites Blackpool, Birmingham, Bournemouth and London.

Atmosphere Matt Curry, from Hen HQ, said: “Brighton is the hen capital of the UK.

“Women travel from all over the UK to celebrate there.

“It is also the natural home for hen nights for everyone in London and the south east.”

Lads’ mag Nuts launched its ‘lads’ weekenders’ service on Tuesday alongside Brighton-based The Stag Company.

They are offering “adrenaline-fuelled weekends” for stag parties.

Packages include casino visits, football matches and dodgeball in the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove.

Organisers say the new venture will bring £4 million to the city’s economy and create 30 new jobs at their Queens Road offices.

Other stag and hen companies say these groups bring other benefits to the city other than economic, including contributing to its atmosphere.

But while stag and hen companies might be revelling in the fact Brighton is such a popular destination, not everyone agrees it is good for the city.

 

Brighton and Hove tourism

Concerns have been raised about the attraction Brighton has to stags and hens.

Roger Rolfe, a member of the St James’s Area Local Action Team and the city’s licensing strategy group, said it was not the type of tourism the city should be attracting.

Instead he said it should follow the examples of other European cities that have taken measures to lessen the impact of stag and hen parties.

He added: “I don’t care how much these tourists bring in revenues, it doesn’t equal what we residents put into the council coffers each week.”

Speaking about Nuts magazine linking up with The Stag Company, Geoffrey Bowden, the chairman of the council’s economic development and culture committee, urged Nuts to work closely with the council to ensure the holidays were a pleasant experience for both “revellers and residents”.

Dan Leonard, the owner of Guest and the City in Broad Street, said he didn’t benefit from stag and hen parties.

He said: “I am not interested in stag and hen parties – not with bells on.

"We are a small townhouse and it is too easy for one group to have an impact on another. If you give one group the exclusive use of the house you only get to know the leader and the others do not give a monkey’s about the property.

“They bring in take-away meals, drop drinks cans on the stairs and generally do not give us any respect. I have heard about the Nuts magazine promotion but it’s not for us.”

Better management

Anne Martin, manager of the Palace Pier, said the stag and hen parties need to be better managed in the city. She said Blackpool, for example, has taken steps to address its image problem with success.

She said: “What Brighton can learn from Blackpool is that there needs to be better communication between the council’s tourism department and businesses. The council must understand the direction that tourism needs to take in the city and help businesses in that effort.”

Claire Ottewell, the chair of the Brighton and Hove Tourism Alliance, said stag and hen parties have the potential to damage the city’s reputation as a fun, fashionable and safe destination.

She said: “Brighton historically has a reputation as a liberal party town and our night time economy brings hundreds of millions of pounds to the city, creating employment and adding to the vibrancy of the seafront.

“However, there are issues with where hen and stag groups play and stay and also with the general management of the night time economy.

“These need to be discussed and tackled in an honest and open manner with all the relevant stakeholders as it is an issue that just won’t go away.

"Areas such as West Street risk becoming no-go areas for families, conference delegates and senior citizens, which gives a very negative impression of an area at the very heart of the city centre.”

The deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Phélim MacCafferty, said: “Brighton and Hove is a city that everyone can enjoy. I think it is possible for us to continue to cater for many different types of tourism, from nights out to delegate conferences.

“They all contribute to the tremendously diverse offer that has put Brighton and Hove on the map as an internationally recognised tourism destination.

“Tourism plays an incredibly important role in the local economy and all parts of the industry should consider and respect local communities. I would like to see them ensure that this message gets through to all of their clients.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Stag and hen nights can cause extra work for police in Brighton but many take place without any problems for us.

“We encourage all organisers and participants to enjoy themselves sensibly.”

Join the Bid Debate


Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce in association with The Argus is holding a Big Debate on the city’s night-time economy.


The city’s leading business figures, politicians and police representatives will debate the motion: “This house believes that Brighton’s night-time economy is tarnishing the city’s brand.”


The event is Sponsored by Solutions Inc and will be chaired by Rob Shepherd from the Press Dispensary.


Speaking for the motion that Brighton’s night time economy is tarnishing the city’s brand will be Andy Winter from Brighton Housing Trust and Justin Manning from the Queen’s Hotel.


Speaking against the motion will be Nigel Liddell from Brighton and Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership and Ian Chisnall from Brighton and Hove Street Pastors.


It will take place on September 26 at City College Brighton and Hove in Pelham Street.


For more details visit www.businessinbrighton.org.uk.