Stags and hens are getting hammered, and not because they've had one too many.
Inflation, the weakening pound and the end of the era of bargain basement flights to Europe has seen the price of stag and hen dos soar.
The average cost of a stag or hen do has skyrocketed to almost £400 – more than double the price just a decade ago, and more than twice the rate of inflation.
Brits toasting their nearly nuptialed pals are shelling out £385 - more than the weekly salary minimum wage salary - on transport, accommodation and drink.
That is more than double the 2010 figure of £150.
Everything from the pandemic to Putin has been cited as a factor for the price surge, although one industry expert said that stags and hens were also increasingly happy to splash the cash – and forget about “grim real life” for a few days.
“Considering we are enduring double-digit inflation, perhaps it isn’t surprising people want to spend more on having fun,” said Matt Mavir, managing director of Last Night of Freedom.
“The last few years have been rough, and we’ve faced everything from pandemics to the lingering threat of nuclear war.
“While the cost-of-living crisis is clearly a key factor, what we are witnessing is that when it comes to these big once-in-a-blue-moon events like a stag or hen do, people are happy to have a splurge and just enjoy life.”
According to Matt, in the early part of the last decade, there was a stag and hen boom – especially to Eastern Europe – which was driven by cheap flights and bargain booze.
However, the global instability of the past few years means those days are unlikely to return.
Inflation-busting flight price hikes have effectively brought an end to the era of budget plane rides, with a recent study by Which? revealing that last year, summer plane tickets increased by an average of 32%.
Soaring airline costs prompted Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary to admit the era of the £10 flight could be over, and the pinch is being felt well after groups have landed.
Beer giant Heineken announced earlier this year that it would start charging 15.8% more per keg.
“Every aspect of life seems more expensive in 2023, and stag and hen trips aren’t exempt,” added Matt.
“However, a lot of this is down to personal preferences. For example, groups are way more eco-minded than they were a decade ago so some groups will be making greener decisions – such as travelling by train instead of the car or plane – even if that costs a lot more.
“The pandemic, and the rise of the staycation, also pushed up the cost of staying in the UK and that’s never really dropped even as restrictions have been lifted.
“People have also become more discerning when it comes to food, drink and accommodation. Hens are definitely happier to spend more money on Instagrammable accommodation and somewhere swanky where the whole group can stay, rather than merely somewhere to rest their head.
“Stags on the other hand would have once picked the place with the cheapest pint. But not craft beer is a huge driver, and groups are instead more bothered about finding somewhere with top breweries – even if that means spending a tenner on a pint rather an £1.”
In a snapshot of just how tight times are, more than half of the 100-plus adults polled by Last Night of Freedom admitted they had pulled out of a stag or hen trip because they simply couldn’t afford it.
The growing costs has coincided with a growing appetite for more budget-friendly locations.
Benidorm, which for decades has enjoyed a reputation as a mecca for thrifty Brits seeking pound-a-pint deals and cut-price fry-ups, has enjoyed a massive surge in demand this year.
It is now breathing down the neck of Europe’s two undisputed party capitals – Newcastle and Liverpool – for the crown of the continent’s stag and hen capital, based on Last Night of Freedom bookings.
“Stags and hens are definitely costing more, but that suggests the location isn’t where people want to spend their cash,” added Matt.
“A decade ago, after The Hangover was released, Las Vegas was a massive market. Flights and hotels were cheaper ten year ago, so it really appealed to stags.
“However, last year, we sold just as many Torquay packages as we did Las Vegas and we might stop booking groups there altogether.
“Instead, having been forced apart for months and even years during the pandemic, people have realised that the location isn’t that important – it is the experience – and they’d much rather spend more on activities, a nice meal or a big memorable night out in order to bond and make memories together – which is what this should all be about.”
