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Gloucester flies the flag for a great night out

Published
Gloucester has once again been given the coveted purple flag for offering a safe and welcoming night out.

It’s the seventh time the city has won the prestigious international award and joins vibrant night-time destinations around the world including places in Australia, New Zealand and Sweden.

The Purple Flag is like the Blue Flag for beaches or the Green Flag for parks and is awarded by ATCM the Association of Town and City Management. 

It’s given to places that provide a vibrant, diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture while providing a safe and welcoming night out.

Judges visited the city and assessed it based on:

  • Wellbeing: safe and welcoming with all everyone playing their part in delivering high standards of customer care.
  • Movement: getting home safely after an evening out and the ability to move around the centre with ease.
  • Appeal: offering a vibrant choice of leisure and entertainment for a diversity of ages, groups, lifestyles and cultures.
  • Place: alive during the day, as well as in the evening. They contain a blend of overlapping activities that encourage people to mingle and enjoy the place.

Judges noted the opening of the Food Dock which has been supported by Gloucester City Council and has encouraged more visitors to the area and neighbouring businesses.

They also welcomed the continued funding for medics and night safe officers who support initiatives such as staggered closing times for night time venue. 

City council officers, Gloucestershire Constabulary, City Safe, Ubico, Gloucester LVA and the Gloucester BID all contributed to Gloucester’s application.

Councillor Rebecca Trimnell, Cabinet member for Community Engagement at Gloucester City Council, said: “This is a great award and I am delighted that Gloucester has once again been recognised. I know individuals have worked hard in making sure there exists a vibrant, welcoming and safe night-time economy in Gloucester. Well done and thank you to all that made this happen for us again."

“In looking forward we want to build on the success of the Food Dock. I am confident with much more hard work and the huge regeneration that is taking place across the city this will ultimately help to make Gloucester even more of a night-time destination.”