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Snappy Runners
AJ Handley-Rowe -
16th June 2022
AJ Handley-Rowe -
16th June 2022 City Centre
Manchester crowned UK’s best-value stag do destination for 2026
Emily Sergeant
Prague, Amsterdam, Benidorm, and now… Manchester?
Jetting off to some of Europe’s cheapest capital cities for a boozy night out with your mates before tying the knot is pretty common-place in the world of stag do culture nowadays.
But some new research has now revealed the UK cities that deliver a legendary last hurrah without the price tag, or the need to hop on a plane.
Chillisauce, the UK’s leading hen and stag organiser, has analysed 81,000+ recent group bookings alongside survey feedback from 4,738 stag groups, cross-referenced against live 2026 travel fares, accommodation, and pint prices.
To devise its top 10 list, real price data has been blended with verified group satisfaction to guarantee stags and their pals the best experience.
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With the pull of a major city with music, sport, food, and nightlife without London prices, Manchester was crowned the best-value city for a stag do in 2026 overall.
The average pint runs a little higher in Manchester than the smaller cities on the list, but groups rated the sheer scale and quality of the night out well above the cost, calling it ‘much more affordable than the South of England’ and ‘cheaper than London’.
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For a weekend in Manchester, research found that the average cost per person includes £86.36 for accommodation, £36.66 for an activity, £25.08 for a drinks package, £29.35 for a meal, and the average pint coming in at £6.
“We send thousands of groups to Prague, Amsterdam, and Benidorm every year,” said Robyn Davis, Head of Stag and Hen at Chillisauce,”but Manchester keeps delivering nights out that groups tell us beat their expectations.
“There are also those only-in-Manchester touches too, like catching a match at Old Trafford or the Etihad on the same trip.
Read more:
- Manchester is apparently set for an ‘invasion’ of stag parties, according to new study
- Manchester has been named one of the ‘chlamydia capitals’ of the UK
- Manc fiancés brave enough to have their wedding planned by amateurs wanted for new series
“Groups describe the locals as up for a laugh and the whole city as ‘built for a stag weekend,’ with a huge number of them already planning to go back, which is the real test of a great destination.”
Other northern destinations on the top 10 list include Newcastle, Leeds, and Liverpool.
Featured Image – Bernard Borno (via Wikimedia Commons)
City Centre
Man charged with rape of 17-year-old girl near Piccadilly Gardens
Emily Sergeant
A man is due to appear in court today after being charged with the rape of a 17-year-old girl near Piccadilly Gardens last month.
A 24-year-old Afghan man, who has been formally named by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as Abdul Shinwari, of no fixed abode, has been charged with two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, non-fatal strangulation, and possession with intent to supply.
He was charged following reports of the rape of a 17-year-old girl on Hope Street, near Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre.
The shocking incident happened at around 1:30am on Tuesday 14 July 2026, and specialist safeguarding officers have been continuing to support the victim ever since.
Shinwari was remanded in custody following his arrest, and is now due to appear at Manchester Crown Court today (25 August 2026).
There have been no further police statements on the matter at this time.
News of this incident comes after it was announced earlier this year that a new police hub was to set to be established in Piccadilly Gardens.
Local leaders said at the start of 2026 that their ambition for the year was to maintain a ‘high-performing’ police service by tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and protecting residents and businesses along the way.
Read more:
- New police hub to be set up in Piccadilly Gardens to help reduce anti-social behaviour
- Man charged and named after two attempted rapes in Rochdale parks just hours apart
- Bolton man jailed for rape and ‘violent’ sexual assault of vulnerable woman
And part of this ambition was to increase police visibility in Piccadilly Gardens, which is a much-maligned part of the city centre, by launching a new ‘prominent’ police hub.
You can read more about that here.
Featured Image – GMP
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