Guildford’s Still The Only Town In Surrey To Be Awarded A Purple Flag

Published on: 19 Sep, 2019
Updated on: 19 Sep, 2019

For the sixth year in a row, Guildford has won the Purple Flag for providing safe, vibrant and varied evenings and nights. We remain the only town in Surrey and among the 70 or so in the UK to hold the award.

The Purple Flag accreditation is similar to Blue Flag for beaches or Green Flags for parks (this year we have 10 of those, the most in the South-east).

The Guildford Town Purple Flag Partnership Group (GTPFP), led by Guildford Borough Council and Experience Guildford (the town’s business improvement district), includes a broad range of town and county organisations including Surrey Police, the Safer Guildford Partnership, Street Angels and Guildford Pub Watch.

Cllr David Goodwin, lead for Licensing, Parking, Refuse and Recycling, said: ‘We are delighted to receive this prestigious award again. We are not only recognised as one of the safest but also one of the most thriving towns in Surrey.

“The evening and night-time economy makes a significant contribution to the borough’s total local economy of £5.5bn a year. I’d like to thank everyone involved in the Purple Flag partnership and beyond for their hard work and dedication.

“Safety is a large part of the assessment. We have a night bus running six days a week. Behave or be Banned was introduced by Experience Guildford, in partnership with Guildford Pubwatch and Surrey Police in 2013, and resulted in a 25% reduction in reported alcohol-related anti-social behaviour. We also have 500 taxi drivers who have completed a BTEC qualification in driving and safeguarding awareness.”

The first Best Bar None awards were launched in February 2014 by Experience Guildford, recognising and rewarding venues that demonstrate best practice investing in staff training and security. The Taxi Marshal initiative has resulted in a 70% reduction in alcohol-related incidents at the taxi rank since 2013.

Amanda Masters, CEO at Experience Guildford, said: ‘It’s an amazing achievement to be awarded the Purple Flag again and it will have a positive impact on the town’s existing reputation as one of the top destinations in the South-east.

“With more than 100 places to eat, three theatres, three shopping centres and one cinema, Guildford comes alive after 5pm and caters for all ages and tastes. Last year there were more than 1,500 live theatre and music events. Purple Flag is the brand customers can have confidence in when choosing a night out.‘We run an annual survey asking residents, visitors, students and businesses what they think of going out in Guildford in the evening and 90% confirmed they feel safe in the town at night.”

Purple Flag, launched in 2012, is run by The Association of Town Centre Management.

Responses to Guildford’s Still The Only Town In Surrey To Be Awarded A Purple Flag

Clive Couzens Reply

September 19, 2019 at 2:52 pm

While there have undoubtedly been significant improvements over the years, the reduction in incidents at the taxi rank is probably more to do with the fact that there are rarely queues there any more.

What change has there been in alcohol-related violence in Bedford Road, where Uber drivers pick up their customers?
Bob Dole Reply

September 26, 2019 at 9:37 am

Pretty sure it’s the only town in Surrey to enter. So yes, Guildford is again first in a race of one. Well done.

A spokesperson for GBC responded: “Achieving Purple Flag status is not a competition it is a stringent application and accreditation process (same as Green Flag and Blue Flag) and it is open to any town centre partnerships to apply. To date, we are the only town in Surrey to apply for it through an active collaboration of multi-agency groups working across the town.”