Nottingham has been awarded the Purple Flag for its evening and night-time economy.

The city has been awarded the prestigious accreditation in recognition of its vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture whilst promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and local residents.

Similar to the Blue Flag for beaches or the Green Flag Award for parks, the Purple Flag aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am.

In awarding the Purple Flag to Nottingham, governing body Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) highlighted the work being done through Nottingham's Safe Space Pledge which delivers practical solutions to reduce the vulnerability of women visiting the city's night-time economy.

The Safe Space Pledge, which was developed by the Consent Coalition in partnership with Nottingham BID, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, provides eight clear actions and commitments Nottingham venues can take to improve the safety of women and girls within their premises.

Also recognised was Nottingham's investment in first aid measures for the evening and night-time economy, and the high standard of transport in the city, including the focus on environmentally conscious transport methods.

Alex Flint, chief executive of Nottingham BID, said: "We are delighted that Nottingham BID has once again achieved Purple Flag status for the city and maintained its reputation as a safe, vibrant destination.

"The success of this project is a testament to effective partnership working in Nottingham. I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed their time and energy to support this worthwhile initiative for the city.

"Promoting a safe and diverse nightlife is key to celebrating Nottingham's national reputation and it's inspiring to see our restaurants, venues, bars and clubs at the heart of Nottingham's well-respected culture."

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: "Nottingham's accreditation as a Purple Flag city means it has been independently benchmarked as being a safe and enjoyable place to have a night out.

"It is fantastic to get the recognition for the incredible work that goes on behind the scenes to make that happen. It is not by accident. Far from it. It takes dedication, careful planning, teamwork and determination to ensure people can visit such a busy place, have a great time, and go home safely.

"Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham BID, all of the licensed venues and many, many other partners play a part in this.

"I'm really proud that Nottingham's Safe Space Pledge has been praised as part of this award, for its efforts to safeguard women and girls. This is just one example of one of the many partnership initiatives that make Nottingham the city it is."

Chief Inspector Amy English, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "I am delighted and very proud that Nottingham retained its Purple Flag status. It's a really impressive achievement and shows that police and partners are working well to ensure the city centre is an attractive and safe destination.

"This status obviously does not mean we are crime free but partnership working and relentless efforts mean we have made significant reductions of 22.7% when compared with pre-pandemic levels in the city centre.

"All I would ask from the public is they continue to report incidents to us so we can understand any issues occurring in the city as they occur so we can take appropriate action."

For more information about the Purple Flag award, please click here.