Lichfield has retained its Purple Flag status following an overnight assessment of the city centre's safety, management and evening economy.
The accreditation recognises places which provide a safe, welcoming and well-managed night-time environment. Assessors visited Lichfield from a Saturday evening into the early hours of Sunday morning in July.
The review considered the city centre between 5pm and 5am, including safety and wellbeing, the range of activities on offer, transport and movement around the area, partnership working and the overall appeal of the evening economy.
Strengths highlighted by assessors
Among the strengths identified were the Late-night Listeners volunteer service, the three-day Fuse Festival in Beacon Park and strong leadership and cross-party support for the city centre.
Lichfield is currently the only place in Staffordshire to hold Purple Flag status. The scheme, which has operated for 16 years, is often compared with the Blue Flag programme for beaches and is used in more than 100 destinations worldwide.
Councillor Janice Silvester-Hall, Lichfield District Council's cabinet member responsible for visitor economy, said retaining the award reflected sustained work by businesses, volunteers and public services.
She said the accreditation was not simply about policing but about creating a varied evening offer where residents and visitors felt comfortable spending time in the city.
Partnership approach
The council-led partnership includes Lichfield City Council, Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Lichfield Garrick, The Hub at St Mary's, the local Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Lichfield Cathedral and the Late-night Listeners.
Businesses and hospitality venues also contribute to the work through staff training, information sharing and measures intended to support customers travelling through the city centre at night.
Leanne Jones, who is involved with the Duke of York and Angel Inn, said the Purple Flag provided independent recognition of the effort made by venues and partner organisations to maintain a positive experience for customers.
The accreditation is reviewed through regular assessments, meaning partners must continue to demonstrate that standards are being maintained and that the city responds to new challenges affecting its evening economy.