Llandudno Makes History as North Wales' First Purple Flag Destination

Llandudno Makes History as North Wales' First Purple Flag Destination

Llandudno

Llandudno Makes History as North Wales’ First Purple Flag Destination and the World’s Only Accredited Resort with a Pier

Llandudno is celebrating after being awarded prestigious Purple Flag accreditation, recognising the town’s commitment to providing a vibrant, safe and welcoming evening and night-time economy.

Thanks to funding from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, Conwy County Borough Council was able to establish a multi-agency Purple Flag Working Group and lead the town's successful application for this prestigious accreditation.

The internationally recognised Purple Flag programme aims to raise standards and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between 5pm and 5am. The award acknowledges destinations that successfully combine a diverse mix of entertainment, culture, dining and leisure opportunities with a strong focus on safety, cleanliness and visitor experience.

The accreditation represents a landmark achievement for Llandudno, making it the first destination in North Wales and only the third in Wales, after Cardiff and Swansea, to receive Purple Flag status. The town has also secured a unique place in the history of the scheme as the first Purple Flag accredited destination in the world to include a pier within its boundary, reflecting the distinctive character of the popular seaside resort.

The successful submission highlighted a number of the town’s strengths, including the significant contribution of Venue Cymru as a major cultural and entertainment venue, attracting visitors throughout the year and showcasing the quality of facilities available in North Wales. Assessors also recognised Llandudno’s outstanding natural assets and the strong partnership working demonstrated throughout the assessment process.

Particular praise was given to the collaborative approach taken by local organisations, businesses and public services in supporting the evening and night-time economy. The valuable contribution of the volunteer ‘Tidy Team’ was also recognised, with members working alongside Conwy County Borough Council’s Streetscene service to help keep the town clean, welcoming and attractive for residents and visitors alike.

Cllr Sharon, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy and Communications says, “We are absolutely delighted that Llandudno has been awarded Purple Flag status. This is a fantastic achievement for the town and recognition of the hard work, dedication and commitment shown by partners across both the public and private sectors to create a safe, welcoming and vibrant evening and night-time economy.

“This award would not have been possible without the collective efforts of so many organisations and individuals. In particular, I would like to thank all the members of the Purple Flag Working Group, whose enthusiasm, collaboration and hard work over many months were instrumental in securing this recognition. Their commitment, alongside the support of local businesses, volunteers and partner organisations, has helped showcase the very best of Llandudno and the strength of its evening and night-time offer."

Purple Flag destinations are recognised worldwide as places that offer a high-quality evening and night-time experience. There are currently around 100 accredited locations across the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Malta, New Zealand and Australia, ranging from major cities and renowned tourist destinations to smaller market towns.

For more than 16 years, Purple Flag has represented the gold standard in the management of evening and night-time economies, and this latest achievement reinforces Llandudno’s reputation as a destination that offers visitors a safe, welcoming and enjoyable experience both day and night.

While this accreditation is a significant achievement, we recognise locally that there is still work to do and challenges to address. Purple Flag provides a strong framework for partners to continue working together, building on what is working well while focusing on the areas where further improvement is needed.

Consumer spend in the UK Night-time Economy was worth £136.5bn in 2022, supporting thousands of businesses, employing 2.08m of the UK workforce, and significantly contributing to local economies.

About Purple Flag

The Purple Flag programme was developed following the Civic Trust’s “Night Vision” report in 2006 and is now managed by the Association of Town & City Management.

 Purple Flag is:

• An accreditation process similar to the Green Flag Award for parks and the Blue Flag for beaches. It leads to Purple Flag status for town centres that meet or surpass the standards of excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy.
• A comprehensive set of standards, management processes and good practice examples designed to help transform town and city centres at night.
• A research, training and development programme to help towns and cities improve their evening and night-time economy.
• A positive initiative that indicates an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out.

 For more information:

Purple Flag | ATCM

Purple Flag