Your York BID 
Purple Flag
Working Together for a Safer York
Your York BID
Purple Flag
Working Together for a Safer York
York is proud to be a Purple Flag accredited city!
This prestigious designation means that York offers a vibrant, diverse and, most importantly, safe experience for residents and visitors enjoying the city from the early evening and into the night.
What is Purple Flag?
Purple Flag is an award from the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM). Similar to the Blue Flag award for safe beaches, Purple Flag status recognises destinations that demonstrate exceptional standards in their evening and late-night offerings. The management of this designation has sat with York BID since late 2023, taking over from City of York Council.
Purple Flag status ensures residents and visitors can enjoy safety, vibrancy, diversity, and cleanliness.
How is a Purple Flag city assessed?
Cities are rigorously evaluated across five main areas:
- Wellbeing - Successful destinations are safe and welcoming with all sectors playing their part in delivering high standards of customer care.
- Movement - Getting home safely after an evening out is crucial, as is the ability to move around the centre with ease.
- Appeal - Successful destinations offer a vibrant choice of leisure and entertainment for a diversity of ages, groups, lifestyles and cultures.
- Place - A strong sense of local character and interesting destinations, blending a range of activities to be enjoyed throughout the day and night.
- Policy - Clear strategies in place to promote a well-managed, safe, and inclusive nighttime environment.
Want to learn more about Purple Flag?
Visit the Purple Flag website for additional information and read on to learn more about the range of BID Purple Flag projects.
Taxi & Riverside Marshals
Taxi & Riverside Marshals are an essential line of support, helping curb anti-social behaviour and enhance public safety in key locations.
The Taxi Marshal programme runs from April to December at Duncombe Place & St Saviourgate Taxi Ranks on key Friday & Saturday nights. The Marshals manage queues, deter ASB and illegal pick-ups, and reduce noise. The initiative is funded by local businesses, residents, and the Licensing Team at City of York Council.
The Riverside Marshal programme runs throughout the busy Summer months at King's Staith and the surrounding areas, working in partnership with door staff and York Rescue Boat to tackle ASB and promote river safety.
Family Friendly Saturdays
Encouraging families to visit the city centre and creating vibrant, family friendly experiences.
York BID delivers a range of Family Friendly Saturdays to bring in free family friendly entertainment to the city centre, including the Dinosaur Experience, Inka the Polar Bear, and Titan the Robot.
As well as increasing footfall, this Purple Flag initiative aims to change the use of city centre spaces on Saturday afternoons and create vibrant, family friendly experiences.
Best Bar None
This Home Office-backed independent assessment celebrates excellence in responsible management and operation of licensed premises.
York BID is thrilled have launched Best Bar None in York city centre. The independent assesment is free to BID and voluntary members, and helps customers easily identify well-managed, responsible pubs, bars, clubs, and other businesses that serve alcohol.
Contact safetynetwork@theyorkbid.com to book an assessment on a time and date convenient to you.
Public Safety Campaigns
Safety initiatives aimed at strengthening York's reputation as a safe place to live, work, study and visit.
York BID worked with North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council, British Transport Police, Make It York, York Rescue Boat, and Street Angels on a public campaign promoting 'Respect Not Regrets.' The campaign was devised after increased reports of hate crime towards hospitality staff and can be found on shop wraps, bollards, and planters throughout the city centre.
Snickelway Rejuvenation Project
York BID has made the city's Snickelways safer and more welcoming with an ambitious rejuvenation project.
York BID have installed permanent festoon lighting in seven key Snickelways, as part of an ambitious initiative to revitalise these historic spaces. The second phase of the project will see the installation of artistic signage, showcasing some of York's lost history.
The project was made possible thanks to grants from the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, York Safer Business Partnership, and York Civic Trust.
Purple Flag is a city-wide initiative, only made possible through partnership working:
