Oxford is a great place to paint the town purple – and that’s official.
The city has been awarded the prestigious Purple Flag for the second year in a row, meaning it is a perfect place to enjoy a night out.
The award, which is backed by the Government, police and the business community, and funded by Diageo GB, is given to towns or cities that have shown they are an outstanding place to visit in the evenings.
Flag holders need to have proved they are welcoming to visitors and residents and provide a good mix of leisure and entertainment facilities, restaurants and bars that appeal to different ages and sections of the community.
They also need to have safe ways for visitors to travel home after a night out, and have good partnerships between the police, the local councils and businesses to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
Councillor Bob Price, leader of Oxford City Council, said: “I am very pleased that our city centre has been recognised for a second time as a real asset to the community, providing a huge range of outstanding evening entertainment meeting every taste and interest.
“The theatres, cinemas, concert and music venues, as well as the nightclubs, lectures and museums and galleries that are provided in Oxford make it a real basket of goodies, not to mention well over 100 restaurants offering a very wide range of different cuisines.
“The Purple Flag shows that we are recognised nationally as a place to visit and enjoy. I hope it will encourage more tourists and residents to visit the city centre in the evenings.”