Hen & Stag Party Planning Guide | F1® Arcade

How to Plan an Unforgettable Hen or Stag Do

Once you’ve reached a certain age, you’ll no doubt have attended plenty of stag dos if you’re a guy, and hen nights if you’re a woman. In fact, even those boundaries are getting blurred, as the trend for mixed-sex pre-wedding parties grows stronger.

But if you’ve been to quite a few over the years, ask yourself – “Which ones do I actually remember?” Your memories aren’t just limited by the amount of refreshments you might have indulged in. There’s also the whole experience, and that’s influenced by the company, the location and the activities on offer. We’d like to bet that the ones that spring to mind are the ones where you’re all having fun doing an activity, while the ones you spent in a regular bar are probably indistinguishable from one another.

So if you’re in charge of stag party planning or are looking for fun hen party ideas, and you want to make it truly memorable, you have your first clue – make it stand out by including an activity.

That’s where F1® Arcade steps up to the plate. If you’re planning a pre-nup party in London or Birmingham, there’s a venue that’s tailor-made for you. We are taking bookings for entire parties, so you don’t have to plan half a dozen things. You simply turn up and let the celebrations begin.

If you were looking for an insanely well stocked bar, and sumptuous foods to satisfy all tastes, you can stop your search right now – we’ve got that covered. A live DJ and dance floor in a semi-private part of the venue? Yeah, that can be part of the deal. But the element that will really distinguish your night from all the others is what we specialise in – hyper-realistic, immersive racing games that you really don’t have to take seriously, but which you will absolutely want to win.

Does this sound like your kind of night? Read on for our hen and stag party planning guide.

Turn the Party Into a Competition

Now you know that activities are key to a night to remember, there’s one element that multiplies the fun: competition. Because everyone is pushing themselves and each other, they’re more engaged and invested in the activity. It’s also perfect for igniting some friendly banter and bragging rights that can last the whole evening as the guests relive their triumphs and blunders.

The racing is perfect if you're looking for stag do activities that are challenging but don’t necessarily give anyone an advantage. That’s because each machine has racing aids that can make the cars easier or harder to handle, and experienced sim gamers or those who know the circuits can keep things fair by turning the aids off.

Important note: as hosts, if we discover that someone has been showing up the F1® Arcade and practising on the racing machines beforehand, we’ll … turn a blind eye. After all, in racing, your number one rival is your teammate.

Add Some Friendly Stakes

Bragging rights are fine, and sure, they can be stretched out over months by experienced boasters. But sometimes, making people put their money (or their pride) where their mouth is can help discover true talent rather than lucky risk-takers. We’re talking about agreeing some prizes and forfeits for the guests, based solely on their performance on the track.

How about making the slowest racer commit to making a speech at the wedding? Or letting the winner choose the tune that’s played when the couple take their first dance? These are high stakes gambles, but you can agree to something a little milder if you don’t trust your guests as far as you could throw them. How about having to wear the helmet of shame all night (with permission to remove it to eat and drink)? Or the winner gets to have a free drink, but it’s out of a shoe, a nod to Aussie racer Daniel Ricciardo.

If you like, you could split the party into groups, and have a shared prize of forfeit. That could be a fun joint stag/hen party idea if you make it a battle of the sexes.

Make Food and Drinks Part of the Plan

Stag and hen do ideas often revolve around drink, but it’s important that no one feels left out. When you party at F1® Arcade, you can be sure everyone is made to feel welcome when they visit the Octane Bar, whether they love indulging in fabulous alcoholic beverages or they don’t drink at all. Our unbelievable cocktails and mocktails are here to ensure that worry is completely eliminated.

It’s the same with food. A big enough party will always have its fair share of carnivores and vegetarians, spice-addicts and people with milder tastes, as well as those with other dietary requirements. When you go all-in at F1® Arcade, that’s all taken care of. Everyone will be fed and watered according to their tastes, and nobody will go home dissatisfied.

Don’t believe us? Check out the food and drink menus.

Give the Group Its Own Space

When stag and hen parties are held at normal bars, there’s always the chance that the party gets intermingled with all the regular patrons of the venue, and it can lose its group feeling.

F1® Arcade solves that problem by giving you the opportunity to hire a roped-off section that’s solely for guests of the party. You might even want to hire the whole venue if your party’s big enough. You’ll get all the perks of the arcade, from the bar, DJ, dancefloor and gaming experience, but it’ll be completely private for the gang.

Booking ahead is essential, so find out more about private events before you take the plunge. You won’t regret it though.

Where to Throw a Stag or Hen Party at F1® Arcade

Stag & Hen Parties in London

You might not be getting married in St Paul’s Cathedral, but having your stag or hen do next door to it will be a pretty special thing. That’s partly why celebrating in the F1® Arcade at St Paul’s/One New Change will tick the “memorable” off requirements list. But racing against your buddies at 200mph in our simulators, between cocktails and incredible food will complete the picture. Whether you choose to drop in on a pub crawl or dedicate the whole evening to F1® Arcade, we can’t wait to see you.

Stag & Hen Parties in Birmingham

Paradise in Chamberlain Square is right in the heart of the city, so you already know there’s going to be a buzz around your whole night at F1® Arcade. But throw in some super-immersive sim racing on real F1® circuits, delicious cocktails, mocktails and international cuisine, and all the fun and frolics of a Birmingham stag or hen do, and you’ve got the makings of a memorable night out in the city.

Stag & Hen Party Planning FAQs

Who usually plans the stag party?

Traditionally, the best man was in charge of planning the party as well as not losing the rings, but nowadays, it’s usually a joint effort, just as there are often several best men.

Who usually plans the hen party?

The maid of honour or head bridesmaid tends to be in charge of planning the party, but it’s not a fixed rule – someone else might be designated the role while the maid of honour sorts out things that are closer to the wedding itself. Often, party planning is a group effort involving the bride-to-be, too.

How far in advance should you plan a stag or hen do?

It really depends on the scale and location. If there’s international travel, hotel stays and potentially booking time off work, you’ll need more than six months. But a low-key local event can be planned in a month or less.

What makes a good stag or hen party activity?

Stag party activities are far more memorable than simply going to a restaurant and a few bars, and they can help break up proceedings, especially if they take up a whole day or multiple days. It’s the same with hen party activities – they just help to bring the party together, especially if guests don’t know each other too well.

Can you have a joint stag and hen do?

Absolutely! They were once unheard-of, but in the past decade or more, it has become a more relaxed – and potentially less expensive – way to celebrate the upcoming wedding. Coming up with joint stag/hen party ideas can also generate much more interesting and unique occasions than you get arranging a traditional single-sex event.

Do you need to be an F1® fan to enjoy F1® Arcade?

Not at all! Plenty of people come to F1® Arcade who have no interest in F1®, motor racing, or even sport in general! It’s the blend of great drinks and food, a relaxed atmosphere and the opportunity to have fun on the games that makes it such a hit with fans and non-fans alike.

Ready to Get the Party Started?

So, you’ve got the guest list, the budget, the city and the venue – now it’s all about planning your evening with F1® Arcade. Do you have a drop-in visit, a whole venue exclusive booking, or something in between? We can help you decide what will suit your party, so find out more below.

Planning a stag party? → Explore Stag Parties

Planning a hen party? → Explore Hen Parties