stamping ground vs hangout

[Eugene2114]

Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland and Newcastle striker Leon Best are deep in conversation, while Magpies old-boy Shay Given takes in the atmosphere on his old stamping ground.
- Hi,
Would you replace "stamping ground" with 'hangout" here, without any shift in meaning?
Thank you.

[Dozy]

They are pretty similar. If I had to find a distinction, to me "hangout" has a slightly more casual flavour.

[Jamie (K)]

I always thought of a person's "old stamping ground" as being a larger area that a person used to frequent. For example, the downtown area of my city is my old stamping ground. It's quite large, but that's where I used to spend most of my time. I went to university there, I went to parties there, I had my studio there, I practiced martial arts there, a frequented museums there, but these were all blocks away from each other.

I think of a hangout as being one small place, like a café, a bar or even a small park, where a lot of people come to loiter.

[Luschen]

I agree with Jamie, but I always called it "stomping ground". Both are considered correct: http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2007/07/stomp.html

[Jamie (K)]

I also call it a "stomping ground", Luschen. I just didn't want to confuse anyone.

[Beeesneees]

I suspect BrE tends toward 'stamping' whereas in the US you 'stomp' ;)
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Jamie (K)]

In the US we both stamp and stomp. There seems to be a subtle difference between the two, but it's too early in the morning for me to think of what it might be. I think stomping is more injurious to something or someone than stamping is, but not always.

[Dozy]