05 February 2024
Southampton has been recognised for its safe nightlife, as the city has retained Purple Flag Status.
Purple Flag which is similar to the Blue Flag for beaches, aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm to 5am.
Organised by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM), it recognises cities and towns that take measures to ensure their centres are safe, diverse, vibrant, appealing, well-managed, and offer a positive experience to consumers.
The city’s Business Improvement District, GO! Southampton has been behind the application. Operations Manager Jade McCauley said: “As a city, we’re really proud to be flying the Purple Flag in 2024. GO! Southampton, along with our members and partners, are always working to improve the safety and wellbeing of residents and tourists in the nighttime economy. We take it seriously, and being recognised for that we have maintained our standards is brilliant.
“What Southampton has to offer is fantastic, with the cinema, theatre, bowling, restaurants, and not just chains, as we have a lot of independent businesses that offer a great experience in the city.”
Southampton is celebrating as it proudly continues to promote the prestigious award. The key successes in Southampton’s submission include the investment in the night-time economy through the Safer Streets 4 funding, as well as the engaging branding for the city. The ATCM also praised the available access to the DISC system by all hospitality venues.
Jade added: “We’d like to thank all the local partners and businesses for working so hard to make the city such a great place for a safe night out.”
Purple Flag has represented the gold standard in the management of evening and night-time economies for nearly 15 years.
A spokesperson from the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM), awarders of the standard, said: “The award will be instrumental in broadening the appeal of Southampton, which has excelled in its vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment, and culture, while also promoting the importance of the safety and wellbeing of the city’s visitors and local residents. Well done Southampton.”
