Stag do

I'm not from Dublin and don't know the place but I'd say Leopardstown on a Thursday night might be what you are after, it's in summer and close enough to town. I think Killarney is close enough to the town as well.

Happy Valley on a Weds night

Where you from? Are you keen racing fans? What time of year?

York or Chester central enclosure, bring your own beer and 6 quid to get in. No cues for bars then!

Aintree evening meetings are good. (National a bit to busy)

Where you from? Are you keen racing fans? What time of year?

York or Chester central enclosure, bring your own beer and 6 quid to get in. No cues for bars then!

Aintree evening meetings are good. (National a bit to busy)

Thanks for the responses

Neill, was thinking about maybe staying in dublin and going to the Curragh.  Have been to Dublin a couple of times but have never been racing while I've been there.

Chrisitian, I live in Suffolk but willing to travel (although Happy Valley may be a bit too far!).  I am a keen racing fan and there will be another couple of racing fans...plus about 15 who enjoy a day at the races but don't follow the sport.  Looking at summer 2012...most likely August.

I had thought about York but wondered whether there is enough going on at night (was there last weekend with the other half and we didn't see much going on when we were walking about in the centre on Saturday evening)?  Also, would a large group have problems getting into places there?

Was on a stag do in Chester this summer and had a great time.

It appeared the whole racecourse had had the same idea so good atmosphere. Also meant that when we hit the town in the evening (went back to the hotel to check in etc and races) everyone was well p!ssed up by about 8/9 after a day drinking in the sun.

If wanted to take the racing seriously (really on a stag do?) it's not great viewing - we set up camp in the middle of the course. However the course and town is set up for such things so can be enjoyed by all.

From a racing perspective Glorious Goodwood is excellent (late July/early Aug.) when you're in a big group, and there's plenty of groups who do boozy pre/post picnics in the car park. The pubs in nearby Chichester (~3 mile bus ride) are ok for a few drinks afterwards, I definitely doubt the place is big/lively enough for a Stag Do...

Maybe you could base yourselves in e.g. Brighton which has plenty of nightlife (not as 'dodgy' as it sounds!). Also there's nearby Hove dogtrack (if still going) if you want to try to continue the punting theme.

Alternatively, Chester, as already suggested is a great place though I don't know the dates of their Summer meetings. I've been to their festival a couple of times (usually 2nd week in May?) and also been to a mate's Stag Do which was early July, I think.  Plenty of pubs in town, old and new (some hidden away on 1st floors, above shops).  Also a few clubs and lapdancing place from what I can briefly recall!

If you waited until the start of September do Dublin and you can go to Leopardstown on a Saturday for the Irish Champion

And then on that Saturday night you can go to Shelbourne Park for the Irish Greyhound Derby semi finals

Galway (Nap) if u can do start of August

Cheers gents - some useful input

Liam, hadn't even thought of Galway!  Do you know whether you get many stag dos there?  I assume there is plenty of nightlife?

Leopardstown a piece of pi$$ to get to from Dublin city centre on the tram.

never been to the racing in galway but its a cracking place for a weekend.

Cartmel Races, August bank holiday weekend (NAP)

Morning Iron Cat, I can thoroughly recommend Galway as the perfect venue for male excess !! Spent 3 nights there with Carvills this year and it was excellent. A great racetrack (constant shuttle buses laid on from the city centre and back(more like a large english town to be fair !), plenty of places to eat catering for all budgets and the nightlife is to die for.There is this one pedestrianised street that must be at least half a mile long going down to the bay that is rammed with bars,music ,street entertainers and people having the craic ! It's far less formal than Goodwood, just a pity the two clash really.

Cheers Liam - that sounds perfect. 

I've passed on the above suggestions to my best man and have left it up to him (will probably end up in some seedy eastern european destination!).

If the stag do isn't Galway then I might have to see if I can squeeze a trip in anyway.  Might wait and see what the finances are like after Cheltenham though!

Thanks all for taking the time to respond.