NOTTINGHAM FLIES THE PURPLE FLAG TO CELEBRATE NIGHT TIME OFFERING

Nottingham has gained further praise for being one of the best places in the country to go for a great night out. It has been announced that the city has been successful in retaining its Purple Flag Status, which deems Nottingham’s night time offering, and efforts to continually improve cleanliness and safety, to be amongst the best in the country. Nottingham first gained Purple Flag Status last year and, following a recent assessment, the city will now hold the title for a further 12 months. The success is down to a collaborative effort between We Are Nottingham Leisure, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham Businesses Against Crime and the Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership Team, as well as other city centre partners. As one of only 16 locations in the UK to have the accolade, and the only one in the East Midlands, the key partners will hold a Purple Flag Week to celebrate Nottingham’s fantastic night time experience. Running from Monday 19 September until Sunday 25 September, the week will see key city centre buildings, including the Council House and Cornerhouse, illuminated in purple, Purple Flags flying in Market Square and from the Castle, and special offers in bars and restaurants across the city. Commenting on the announcement of Purple Flag Week, Sylvia Manser, Chief Executive of We Are Nottingham Leisure, said: “Nottingham has an enviable offering for everyone in the evening, from families and older members of the community, to students and groups of friends. We have a fantastic selection of bars, restaurants and clubs, as well a world-class cultural offering with theatres, art galleries and live music venues. Commenting on the city’s retained Purple Flag status, Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "We offer a wide programme of night time events and it’s great that the judges praised the way we work with our partners to create a welcoming environment. “We have already shown ourselves to be the ‘cleanest big city in the UK’. When you couple this with an outstanding evening leisure and cultural offering, award winning public transport, significantly reduced crime levels and initiatives such as Street Pastors, Doorwatch and Taxi Marshals, it is clear that Nottingham is a great place for people to enjoy safely at night.” For more information on Nottingham’s Purple Flag Status, visit www.mynottingham.gov.uk/purpleflag