Brighton Big Weekend

An instructor covers gun safety and the mount, then you shoot in small groups from a stand while the rest of the group watches. Most sessions give everyone a set number of cartridges and finish with a flush or a scored round to find a winner. Guns, cartridges, ear defenders and eye protection are provided. The instructor stays at your shoulder throughout and it is genuinely achievable for someone who has never held a shotgun. Countryside sites mean boots and a waterproof. No alcohol before shooting, and any ground will refuse someone who has been drinking.

Standard entry gets the group past the queue on a guest list, which matters because large male groups are the first ones a door turns away. A booth adds a reserved table, a set number of bottles with mixers and a host who looks after the table. Booths are sold on a minimum spend rather than a flat fee at many clubs, so the bottles you order count towards it. Ask what the minimum is and what it includes before you agree to anything. Dress code is enforced hard on stag groups. No sportswear, no trainers at some doors, no matching shirts, and nobody visibly drunk gets in regardless of the booking.

You stand behind a bar with your own kit and a bartender takes the group through two or three drinks, explaining the spirits, the shake and the balance. You make each one yourself and drink it. Most classes finish with a competition for the best drink. Sessions usually run around ninety minutes and include everything you make, with the option to stay on in the bar afterwards. No dress code beyond the venue's. It gets sticky, so nothing you are precious about.

A restaurant taking a large group will usually want a set menu, a deposit and final numbers a few days ahead. That is normal and it works in your favour: the food comes out together and the bill is per head rather than an hour of arithmetic. Tell them about allergies and anyone who does not eat meat when you confirm the numbers, not on the night. Dress code is the restaurant's. If you are heading to a club afterwards, dress for the club, because the restaurant is the softer door.