Growing in popularity, Sten Do’s are a joint celebration for friends of boththe bride and groom, where everyone can spend time together as a groupand bond before the wedding day. Over the past year, searches for ‘stenparty ideas‘ have increased by +40% [2], highlighting that the traditional idea of a separate stag and hen do is changing.
With June, July and August being popular months for Sten Do’s to take place, Mecca Bingo has revealed the top UK locations for a Sten Do. The study is based on factors such as restaurant, transport and accommodation costs, as well as the number of group activities availableand the chances of nice weather.
From a city trip in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to seaside fun in Southampton, here are the score rankings of the top UK cities for a Sten Do.
The top UK locations for Sten Do’s:
- Liverpool
- London
- Leicester
- Birmingham
- Leeds
- Middlesborough
- Southampton
- Coventry
- Portsmouth
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Liverpool
With an overall score of 51, England’s UNESCO city of music, and the host of last year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been crowned as the top UK city for a Sten Do. There’s plenty to see and do, with 194 attractions for groups to choose from, whether it be visiting the Royal Albert Dock or taking a trip back in time to The Cavern Club.
Also, Liverpool has 72 accommodation options to choose from at an average cost of £135.29 per person for two nights, low taxi prices and an average three-course meal per person being £30.00, Liverpool is a more budget-friendly option. From the city’s top rated ‘Greek Taverna’ restaurant to Mexican food at ‘La Parrilla’, there are lots of cuisines to tuck into as a group.
- London
Coming in second is England’s capital city, and if you’re looking for attractions to experience as a group, you will be spoilt for choice with 760 options, including Borough Market and Hyde Park.
Also, with the largest choice of accommodation options and restaurants for large groups, finding somewhere to stay or go for dinner will be easier, however make sure you book in advance and expect to pay a higher price than other UK locations.
- Leicester
If your Sten Do guests are foodies but also want value-for-money, then Leicester is a great choice, with one of the cheapest averagecosts for a three-course meal across all UK cities, at £25.00 per person. Also, with the average cost of a drink being £1.90, the group will be able to grab a morning coffee without breaking the bank.
Accommodation is also more reasonable than in Liverpool and London, at an average cost of £108.55 per person for two nights. However, booking ahead of time will be needed as there are only a limited number of options for 26 people. Overall, this is a great budget-friendly location compared to other UK cities.
Mecca Bingo spoke to relationship expert, Georgina Sturmer, to offer her expertise on how to navigate a Sten Do as a large group.
Top tips for navigating a Sten Do as a group
Firstly, Georgina emphasises that communication is key, explaining that“The nature of a Sten Do might mean that we are doing unfamiliar activities with new people, so it’s important to communicate and consider any compromises that we might need to make”.
Additionally, the Relationship Expert advises letting go of “any set of assumptions as there isn’t really the same ’social blueprint’ for a Sten Doas there would be for separate celebrations”.
Sturmer also explains that you should “Embrace the opportunity to build connections. In a mixed ’sten do’ crowd, especially if the two groups don’tknow each other that well, there’s a real opportunity to have fun and build connections before the wedding itself, and you might even make some new friends!”
