Chelmsford’s night-time economy celebrated with 13th consecutive Purple Flag
Chelmsford has been awarded Purple Flag status for the 13th consecutive year, thanks to its varied, vibrant and safe night-time experience.
The city’s “vibrant and rich mix” of entertainment was credited for making Chelmsford a destination of choice, while the “exemplar” CCTV network was highlighted for its role in making Chelmsford city centre a safe place to be at night.
Chelmsford’s night-time economy recognised as vibrant, safe and accessible
Purple Flag is an Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) accreditation, recognising excellence in managing evening and night-time economies. Before awarding (or re-awarding) a town or city with the status, independent assessors visit destinations to evaluate their management against the ATCM standard.
Chelmsford City Council hosted an assessors’ visit in November 2025 and in February 2026 the city’s Purple Flag status was officially re-accredited. The awarding report praised Chelmsford as a city with broad appeal to consumers and strong working relationships between agencies and night-time economy stakeholders.
ATCM assessors praised the city’s well-balanced mix of independent and chain venues.
During their visit, assessors met with city councillors, Chelmsford City Council officers, senior Essex Police officers and Chelmsford For You’s Night Time Economy Manager, along with local business owners and the Chair of Chelmsford Pubwatch, to learn more about the operation of Chelmsford’s night-time economy.
Councillor Donna Eley says the commitment of these partners and local business owners is reflected in Chelmsford’s longstanding Purple Flag status:
““The night-time economy is a complex and important element of city living, so I am particularly proud that this report highlights Chelmsford City Council’s collaborative approach to working with Chelmsford For You, Essex Police and other Safer Chelmsford partners. I’m continuously proud of the work that goes in to keeping Chelmsford safe, day and night, and it’s wonderful to see that work recognised once again by ATCM.
Councillor Donna Eley, Cabinet Member for a Safer Chelmsford
“So much happens over a year and one can take small changes for granted, but this assessment serves as a great reminder of the constant improvements happening here in Chelmsford: the city has welcomed exciting new businesses over the last twelve months; the theatre has hosted multiple West End productions; lighting improvements have been made in parks and pedestrian areas; Night Marshals have been introduced to the city centre; and we’ve seen the opening of Bow Bridge and Beaulieu Park Station, advancing Chelmsford’s transportation network.
“Reflecting on these positive changes, and seeing acknowledgement of Chelmsford’s great teamwork, is a proud moment and a motivator to ensure that our city continues to grow and adapt, while remaining a safe and enjoyable place for all.”
Chelmsford praised for “outstanding” variety of nightlife
In their report, assessors praised the variety of entertainment in the city centre, particularly for young people, noting the “well managed, diverse and interesting” options available during the early evening.
The city’s mix of chain and independent food and drink venues was also highlighted, with their differing atmospheres and price points ensuring that Chelmsford nightlife accommodates a diverse customer base.
Chelmsford’s rich mix of entertainment appeals to a diverse audience.
The arches in Chelmsford’s West End were given a special mention, with assessors commenting that the venues “show a very good use of an area that, if not properly managed, could feel very unsafe”. The nearby Chelmsford Theatre was highlighted as “a great success story” and public events at Chelmsford Cathedral were praised as “great use of a beautiful space”.
Public spaces were recognised as well-lit and carefully managed.
Lively city centre bucks the national trend
It’s not just the variety of night-time venues that was noted, but the number. According to assessors, “Chelmsford stands out due to the consistency of the hospitality offer despite the same pressures endured across the country. [In Chelmsford] when one business closes another seems to open.”
Visits to the city centre rose by 4.66% last year vs the previous, with over 15 million visits recorded between August 2024 and July 2025. Marc Miller says Chelmsford has proved itself to be a resilient city over recent years:
““We’re absolutely thrilled to see Chelmsford recognised with Purple Flag status. It’s a real credit to the people behind our city centre nightlife, the venue owners, managers, door teams, artists and staff who keep things fresh, safe and welcoming week in, week out.
Marc Miller, Night Time Economy Manager, Chelmsford For You
“While many town and city centres across Essex have found the last few years very tough, Chelmsford’s night-time scene has shown real resilience. Businesses here haven’t stood still, they’ve adapted, invested and worked together to make sure our evening offer stays exciting and relevant.
“This award isn’t just a badge, it’s proof that Chelmsford city centre continues to stand out in the county as a destination for people to enjoy a great night out with confidence.”
“Exemplary” CCTV network and management
The safety of night-time economy customers and staff is an important element of the Purple Flag accreditation. The report notes, “Chelmsford CCTV is an exemplar in terms of the state of the art technology and effectiveness of its usage.”
From the central control room at Chelmsford’s Civic Centre, CCTV feeds are monitored 24/7 by council officers, who have two-way communication with Essex Police and with businesses using PubLink. Assessors noted that this allows the CCTV team to operate “as a safety command and control centre, bringing together public and private sector” partners.
Chelmsford’s CCTV network plays a key role in keeping the city safe.
The CCTV control room also has direct contact with the city’s Night Marshals and SOS Bus, two safety enhancement services that were recognised in the report, along with Chelmsford’s strong PubWatch network.
Night Marshals patrol the city on Saturday nights and are on-hand to assist members of the public whilst also supporting night-time economy businesses. The SOS Bus provides a safe haven to anyone who needs it every Saturday night, from 10pm to 4am.
Ryan Rezezadeh, Chair of Chelmsford Pubwatch, says communication between care providers and local businesses is key to Chelmsford's success:
““The strength of Chelmsford’s night-time economy comes from strong partnerships we have built.
Ryan Rezezadeh, Chair of Chelmsford Pubwatch
“When venues, care providers, security teams and Local Authorities share information and look out for one another, we prevent problems before they escalate. The Night Marshals and SOS Bus and our fantastic CCTV control room are a visible reminder that safety isn’t the responsibility of one organisation it’s a community effort.”
An attractive and well looked after city
Recalling their visit, assessors said that the city centre “was really clean and well looked after,” noting that its cleanliness, along with impactful lighting from bridges, shops, venues and “attractive public spaces”, contribute to the area’s sense of safety.
Having been voted the best place to live in Essex by Muddy Stilletos and named among the Best Places to Live in the UK by The Sunday Times in 2025, Chelmsford certainly has a lot to live up to this year! With exciting upcoming music events, an inspiring and supportive creative community, a dedicated multi-agency safety network and a strong sense of identity, 2026 could be the city’s best year yet.
Thank you to all Chelmsford City Council’s partners for their continued support and investment, and to Purple Flag for recognising Chelmsford as a safe and thriving city.
For more information about upcoming events in the area, visit the Chelmsford For You website and follow the council on Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor.
To learn more about Purple Flag, visit www.atcm.org/purple-flag.
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