York attributes appeal to hen parties to city’s perceived safety

York, a city previously known for issues related to stag and hen party conduct, has stated that female groups opt to visit due to its reputation as a “safe” destination. The city of York has once again received Purple Flag status, an accreditation program that acknowledges collaborative initiatives aimed at fostering a secure and varied nighttime economy. Pete Kilbane, the economy spokesperson for the City of York Council, informed a committee on Tuesday that York had fulfilled the necessary criteria for establishing a secure environment and discouraging disruptive conduct. Kilbane attributed the award to the endeavors of York BID, which has put up posters urging visitors to conduct themselves respectfully. Kilbane stated: “The poster says ‘We’ve got enough history’; so don’t cause problems.” He continued: “It has an effect, the Purple Flag is more about the things we do to get accreditation rather than the accreditation itself.” Kilbane added: “Put it this way, we get hen parties coming here because they think it’s a safe place to come, they’d sooner come here than other livelier cities in the north, so to an extent it’s working.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that the local Business Improvement District (BID) assumed responsibility for managing the Purple Flag designation from the council in 2023. This status, conferred by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM), represents an internationally recognized program, comparable to the Blue Flag awards granted to coastal towns for maintaining high beach standards. Purple Flags are bestowed in acknowledgment of endeavors to establish secure and vibrant environments for individuals frequenting pubs, bars, clubs, and restaurants during evening hours. Since approximately 2015, Members of Parliament and local councillors have drawn attention to problems stemming from boisterous conduct by hen and stag groups in York, a period during which the city center was characterized as a “no-go area” and a council meeting was convened. Owners of pubs and bars received invitations to this meeting following reports from North Yorkshire Police indicating that groups originating from the north-east and South Yorkshire were instigating disturbances. Licensees present at the meeting attributed the issues to revellers “loading up” on alcohol purchased from supermarkets and consumed while traveling on trains to York. In 2022, Rachael Maskell, the city’s MP, stated that stag and hen parties had caused “devastation” and that residential properties in the suburbs were being leased to boisterous groups. She expressed a desire for the city to transition towards being more “family-friendly” and to distance itself from “revelry.” Maskell highlighted that a significant portion of the expenditure by stag and hen groups occurred in chain bars and pubs, providing minimal advantage to the local economy. York BID indicated that when these comments were made, there had been an increase in groups celebrating in the city, a phenomenon attributed to weddings postponed due to Covid. Subsequently, the council developed a “guidebook” for large groups visiting York for drinking activities, offering recommendations such as reserving restaurant tables, following research that revealed residents’ complaints about an intimidating ambiance in the city center on weekends. York initially received Purple Flag status in 2021.