Second Purple Flag Award for Guildford

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Guildford has receive the Purple Flag award for night-time economy for the second year running.

The award recognises good practice and excellence in the management of a town centre at night, highlighting the safety, vibrancy and diversity of an area’s evening and night life.

Guildford joins nearly 70 other towns and cities across the UK and Ireland who proudly fly the Purple Flag and is currently the only town in Surrey to have gained such accreditation. 

The Purple Flag assessors remarked: “Guildford is clearly a great example of a Purple Flag area showing good practice in the evening and night-time economy.”

The Purple Flag campaign in Guildford has been driven by Experience Guildford, the town centre’s business improvement district in partnership with Guildford Borough Council, Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue, Guildford Pubwatch and Guildford Street Angels.

Collectively, they have worked to raise the profile of the town and its evening and night-time economy offering, covering pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues and tackling issues of safety and transport, street lighting, signage and parking, for example.

Organised by the Association of Town and City Management, Purple Flag assessors praised three key initiatives undertaken by the town to secure the award once again.

• The introduction of a Guildford Town Crime Reduction Partnership, led by Experience Guildford in association Surrey Police and Guildford Pubwatch and comprising of over 180 businesses within the town.
• Arriva bus company introducing a night bus that currently runs on specific nights funded by the University of Surrey.
• Improved signage through the introduction of a Wayfinder system that is now installed and operational.

Stuart Craggs, night-time economy manager at Experience Guildford and recently appointed Purple Flag assessor said: “Guildford has worked hard to ensure our evening and night-time economy is one that we can all be proud of.

“To be recognised as a beacon of excellence within Surrey by the Purple Flag assessors is testament to the hard work and commitment of all those involved.”