It may just be a simple purple flag flying outside City Hall, but this flag is a national recognition of Bristol’s city centre success.

The Purple Flag award is an annual award made by the national Association of Town Centre Management.

Criteria assessed to gain a Purple Flag include:

• Cleanliness of the city centre open spaces
• Ease of getting into and out of the area
• Diverse appeal of entertainment, arts and culture
• How welcoming the area feels
• How safe the area is to visit
• The strength of the local links between agencies and business who operate in the night-time economy in the Purple Flag area

“A fourth consecutive Purple Flag in recognition of our well-managed and maintained city centre is excellent news,” says Bristol mayor George Ferguson.

“It’s a celebration of our vibrant, urban environment and shows our strong partnerships with the police, Destination Bristol and local businesses are paying dividends.”

From left to right, Inspector Keith Rendall of Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Destination Bristol director John Hirst and Bristol Mayor George Ferguson