Leicester city centre has been awarded the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and night-time economy (ENTE).
Leicester has now retained Purple Flag every year since 2019 – a reflection of the continued commitment from partners across the city to create a welcoming, diverse and high-quality experience after dark.
The accreditation is awarded by the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM) and assesses cities against five key themes: wellbeing, movement, appeal, place and policy. Leicester met or exceeded the required standard across all areas in the 2025 renewal.
A safe and well-managed city at night
Purple Flag recognises not just a great night out, but a safe and responsibly managed one.
In Leicester, this is delivered through strong partnership working between BID Leicester, Leicester City Council, Leicestershire Police, universities and a range of city centre organisations.
Key initiatives include:
- Night-time medical provision, operating from 10pm–5am with paramedic-led response teams helping reduce pressure on emergency services and keep people safe
- Project Vigilant, a proactive policing initiative targeting predatory behaviour, contributing to a 45.6% reduction in night-time economy-related sexual offences
- Street Pastors and Safe Space provision, offering welfare support to people on nights out
- Best Bar None, recognising venues that meet high standards of safety, management and customer care
A vibrant and diverse nighttime offer
Leicester’s evening economy continues to grow, with a broad mix of food, drink, culture and entertainment.
- Over 40 venues taking part in Leicester Restaurant Week, showcasing the city’s food scene
- A wide range of cuisines and new openings, from independent restaurants to international brands
- Late-night venues, live music spaces and leisure activities including bowling, golf and social gaming
- Cultural anchors such as Curve, Phoenix and the Cultural Quarter
- Major events also play a key role in bringing people into the city after 5pm, incluiding Light Up Leicester, attracting over 100,000 visitors across four nights and Brew Beat, a free three-day festival drawing thousands into the city centre in the evening
- Seasonal events, markets and city-wide campaigns
Easy, safe and accessible
Leicester city centre offers a compact, walkable layout, supported by:
- Thousands of centre parking spaces, with free on-street parking after 6pm
- Improved pedestrian areas and bollard-controlled zones to prioritise safety
- Strong public transport connections and taxi provision
- Wayfinding signage and digital tools including the My Leicester app
Want to discover what’s on in Leicester after dark? Click here to download the My Leicester App to explore events, offers and venues across the city centre.