City centre receives Purple Flag award for 14th consecutive year

📖 Monday 23 March 2026

Sheffield city centre has been reaccredited with a Purple Flag award for the way it manages the city centre's night-time economy. Purple Flag status is awarded by The Association of Town & Centre Management (ATCM) to towns and city centres that meet or surpass standards of excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy. In 2012 Sheffield was the first city in Yorkshire to apply for accreditation. Businesses and partners continue to support initiatives in the city centre that add to the city’s night-time offer. Initiatives that support the Purple Flag process include: 

• Best Bar None Sheffield
• Ask for Angela - supported by a night-time charter and toolkit, a Sheffield City Council initiative to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls and to improve the safety of women and girls who work, visit, or socialise in the nighttime economy.
• Sheffield Safe Square - another initiative that aims to support Sheffield’s night-time economy and keep residents and visitors safe when out in the city centre.

Diane Jarvis, Chief Executive Officer at Sheffield BID, who coordinate the delivery of the Best Bar None scheme in Sheffield, said: "Sheffield BID continues to play an active role in supporting partners to maintain the city’s Purple Flag status. 

"Through strong collaboration across the evening and night‑time economy, we are working together to create safe, welcoming and vibrant experiences for everyone who visits the city centre.

“Our award-winning Best Bar None scheme has grown yet again this year, demonstrating the continued commitment of venues to raising standards and contributing to a great – and safe – night out in Sheffield.”

Purple Flag accreditation status is considered via a number of factors including: 

• personal safety
• cleanliness
• transport
• the food and drink offer
• bar and restaurant offer
• attractiveness and appeal
• arts and cultural offer
• how welcoming the city is and
• the strength of partnership working.

Sheffield’s partners in the Purple Flag Process include: 

• Sheffield City Council
• South Yorkshire Police
• Sheffield BID
• City Centre Retailers Group
• Changing Sheff
• Friends of Sheffield City Centre
• UNIGHT - the city centre’s NTE group
• Sheffield Street Pastors
• Marketing & Tourism Sheffield
• Business Sheffield.