Plans are being finalised for the town of Hucknall to host a Pride event later this year.

The event is being collaboratively organised by the owners and landlords of four venues: Damo's on Annesley Road, Byron's Rest on Baker Street, The Red Lion on High Street and The Half Moon on South Street.

The idea for the event follows a string of homophobic insults on social media aimed at Damien O'Connor, the owner of Damo's, after the pub flew the rainbow flag throughout June to celebrate Pride month.

Following the abuse, other venue owners and landlords rallied round to show their support to Damien and his business, and this sparked the idea that they could run something in the community to show solidarity for the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, queer and other sexual identities) community.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News Mr O'Connor said: "One of the reasons behind organising an event like this with other local venues is that people can take part if they want without going out their way. So, the customer wants to come in because they're a regular of here, the Moon, Lion, Byron's Rest, they can still go in and enjoy their drink of choice in their pub of choice, however having this event coinciding with us being open, those that want to go to enjoy Pride and meet others from the community or try our venues out can do so.

Image courtesy of Damo's.

"People can just enjoy this event for what it is, for celebrating life in all of its form. I want it to be seen, advertised, and accepted as an event for everyone not just those from the Pride community not just those who are gay, lesbian, transgender, queer or bisexual or wherever they fit within the rainbow flag so to speak; it's an event for everyone. One of the most common questions I've had since we've said there was going to be some form of Hucknall Pride is, 'can straight people come?' And the simple answer to that is yes.

"From this I want anyone to be able to walk through any of the participating venue's doors regardless of their sexuality, regardless of any circumstance category they fall into or what they choose to identify as and feel welcome."

Mr O'Connor also hopes the event will help young people who are unsure or curious about their own sexual orientation.

He added: "We want the event to be for all ages and luckily for us our licences within our venues allow us to have children in within our remit of what's granted to us.

"You've got people that are maybe 15, 16, 17 that are going through the curiosities at school the what ifs, the buts and maybes. And if they can come to one of our venues and feel they can talk to people openly it might help put their minds at ease with 'who am I?' And they might be able to answer that question; a question which I wasn't able to answer for quite some time.

"Times have changed massively now since I was a teenager 20 years on and fortunately for the children of this day and age, they've got a much larger, more accepting support network around them. It's amazing now that people can be who they want to be and be accepted for that."

More information about the Hucknall Pride event, including when it will take place, will be announced in the next few weeks.