Coventry’s night-time economy has been awarded a major international accreditation for the very first time, recognising the city as a safe destination after dark.

2025/26 Activities Officer Layna Forbes played an important role in supporting the city’s assessment via a Safety Walk event as part of the Union’s Welcome Week activity for new and returning students. 

The city has been recognised with prestigious Purple Flag status, highlighting Coventry city centre, Earlsdon High Street and the Kasbah in Primrose Hill Street as providing a safe, entertaining, diverse and enjoyable night out.

Coventry Business Improvement District (BID), Coventry City Council and West Midlands Police have been working in partnership to raise standards and ensure positive night-time experiences for residents, visitors and people working in the city centre.

This work includes licensing and compliance activity, taxi safeguarding checks, Ask for Angela and Best Bar None, and preparedness activity under Protect & Prepare. 

Over the last three years the BID has also purchased 200,000 safety items for venues to distribute free of charge, including DrinkSafe anti-spiking covers, bottle toppers and DrinkSafe testing strips to allow venues to spot-check if a drink has been spiked.

Further joint activity includes, the installation of 100 public defibrillators and bleed kits over the last three years. 

The assessment took place alongside the Christmas Market and Festival of Christmas, showcasing Coventry at one of its busiest and most dynamic times of year.

Layna added: “I supported their safety walk event, which helped students find safe routes around Coventry and visit local businesses sharing information on how to stay safe on a night out but also what Coventry offers!
I then shared this experience speaking with assessors the event, how much students enjoyed the event and the opportunity for students to network with inclusive venues that support many of our LGBTQIA+, disability and neurodiverse communities.”

Joanne Glover, Chief Executive of Coventry BID, said: “The safety of visitors to the city centre is our highest priority, so it is fantastic to have received Purple Flag recognition after many years of hard work across the city.

“This was a true partnership effort, not only with the key partner organisations, but also our brilliant community of businesses, who have gone above and beyond at all stages and proved the power of partnership working in Coventry.”