Reliable late-night transport is a crucial lifeline for the ENTE, yet smaller towns and cities often face unique challenges in providing safe and accessible options. Without effective transport links, businesses can struggle to attract and retain evening visitors, limiting the growth and vibrancy of the night-time offer. This session of the Purple Flag Forum explored how tailored transport solutions can drive footfall, extend dwell time, and support a thriving ENTE. Two Purple Flag destinations shared their experiences and strategies for improving late-night connectivity, offering practical insights for other destinations.

Culture plays a pivotal role in shaping vibrant, inclusive, and thriving night-time economies. From live performances and art installations to community events and festivals, cultural initiatives can transform town centres into dynamic nightscapes that draw visitors and strengthen local identity. The first Purple Flag Forum of 2025 explored how destinations are leveraging culture to enhance their night-time economy. We heard from a Purple Flag destination who shared innovative approaches to integrating culture, driving footfall, and creating lasting impact.

Ojay McDonald, CEO, ATCM interviews Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central

Despite making a valuable contribution to the town centre, the hospitality sector has faced significant pressure in recent years. Lockdowns, staff shortages, energy price hikes and a cost of living crisis have dented business sentiment. This session of the Purple Flag Forum looked at different initiatives aimed at supporting restaurants. Two Purple Flag destinations discussed their varying approaches to driving footfall and spend at opposing times of the year to provide food for thought to other Purple Flag destinations and ATCM members.

Place management based triage services at night can provide a crucial mechanism for early intervention. On the one hand they can provide a screen for the emergency services, reducing the pressure on the police and health services. On the other hand, through proactive assistance for night time users, triaging can keep people safe with positive benefits for health outcomes. So, what can we learn about place management’s role in delivering triage services? The first Purple Flag Forum following the Summer break took a case study approach to the use of triage services at night. The meeting also included an open roundtable, allowing delegates to ask questions and offer their own experiences of triage services, taking into account everything from partnership development, working with volunteers and data collection on outcomes from public services.

The first step to making a great place, is to create a safe space. But how can we achieve this, when some of the people who might feel the most vulnerable are not always part of the urban design process? For the first time, the Purple Flag Forum went international to discuss different approaches, across both northern and southern hemispheres, to creating places inclusive of women, girls, gender diversity and other key groups through collaborative placemaking. This virtual event included contributions from New South Wales (Australia) and the UK.

Hospitality faces a bleak start to 2024. Following years of disruption and pressure, there are serious concerns that many in the business have reached the end of the road. The combination of high prices for energy, goods and staff, with historically low levels of spend at the beginning of the calendar year possibly made worse by the cost of living crisis means we have a business model being pushed to the brink. As a critical part of the evening and night time economy, the first Purple Flag Forum of 2024 discussed how we can incorporate the hospitality sector into our place strategies. Building on ATCM’s contributions to the Hospitality Sector Council, this meeting provided all members with the guidance on supporting the sector.

The conflict between Israel and Gaza has worldwide ramifications. For those involved in the management of towns and cities, dealing with the fallout in community relations is top of the list. Protests and counter-protests in the context of rising antisemitism and islamophobia makes this a difficult for time for all those striving to create inclusive and welcoming environments for all. The emergence of far right elements in society heighten the concerns around community safety. So, how do we respond? This emergency meeting of the Purple Flag network provided a policy update on the conflict and the funding available to support local communities through a challenging time before looking to Northern Ireland, a nation that faced deep divisions within its communities. We will be joined by City Centre Initiative Derry-Londonderry to hear about experiences of providing a safe space for all during a time of division and protest.

Since the end of trading restrictions, there have been concerns around safety at night. Many ATCM members have reported greater instances of anti-social behaviour, or greater fear of anti-social behaviour from town centre users. This Purple Flag Forum explored challenges around ASB and understand how different towns are responding. This meeting is open to all ATCM members, not just Purple Flag accredited destinations. Contributions were delivered by Leitrim County Council and the South West Business Crime Centre.