UK city facing ‘unprecedented’ weekend as stags and hens defy party crackdown
Edinburgh is experiencing an “unprecedented” wave of bachelor parties despite a crackdown on hen and stag tourism by councillors.
Less than two months into 2023, stag and hen do firm Last Night of Freedom revealed it has already booked half as many pre-wedding dos in the Scottish capital as it did in the whole of 2022, with almost one in 10 future brides and grooms celebrating their singledom for the last time this weekend heading to Auld Reekie.
“We are expecting well over 100 groups to visit Edinburgh this weekend, which given it is the middle of February and months from the summer peak, is unprecedented for this time of year,” Last Night of Freedom managing director Matt Mavir said.
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Edinburgh is known for its acclaimed nightlife and hosts millions of partygoers every year, with many attending the annual Fringe Festival in August.
(Image: Daily Record)
More still make their way to the city’s infamous Pubic Triangle, a junction populated by strip clubs, as well as Cowgate and New Town which boast some of the city’s top nightclubs and bars.
But the news comes shortly after campaigners in Edinburgh called for a crackdown on “nuisance” behaviour in the city’s historic Old Town, leading councillors to vote in favour of a “nil cap” policy for adult entertainment venues including strip clubs.
The Edinburgh Old Town Association (EOTA), championing the proposed rules, made reference to Amsterdam’s “Stay Away Campaign”, which could see the city tighten its licencing laws and cut its opening hours short in a bid to dissuade partygoers from visiting.
(Image: Daily Record)
EOTA member Eric Drake told the Edinburgh Evening News: “Without wanting to sound snobbish, some types of tourist are better for the city.”
But Manvir believes the idea would have catastrophic effects on Edinburgh’s economy, estimating each hen and stag group spends about £5k in a weekend.
“Stags and hens will likely inject well over £500,000 into Edinburgh’s bars, hotels and restaurants,” he said.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Considering it is still the winter, that is a staggering sum, and come summer, they bring millions to the city each and every weekend.
“Suggesting that these groups are unwanted is simply snobbish. No city on Earth in the current economic climate can afford to chuck away millions of pounds while jeopardising people’s jobs and livelihoods in the process.”
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