Pride plans for the next 5 years to be agreed

Councillors are set to agree plans to deliver the annual Brighton & Hove Pride festival and events for the next 5 years.

A report is going to the council’s Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism & Economic Development Committee next week to agree the running of the community parade, village street party and Preston Park activities for 2024-2028.

Within the report, councillors are being asked to recommend that landlord’s consent is given for Pride events until 2028. This will enable Brighton Pride CIC to plan the events and secure long-term partnerships and sponsorships that will ensure the financial stability for the event to continue.

While Pride pay for the cleansing and costs within their official sites, the report also sets out an updated charging structure to recoup a minimum of £300,000 towards the annual city-wide cost to the council over the next 5 years, taking into account recent operational and financial challenges.

Councillors are additionally being asked to agree changes to the event. These proposals include recommendations for:

• the Pride Community Parade to continue to take place on the Saturday, with a slightly earlier start time of 10.30am.
• the Preston Park event to continue to take place largely unchanged on the first weekend in August in 2024.
• consultation around the park site being used for an additional weekend at the end of July from 2025 so that further community events can take place throughout the week to make good use of the event site while set up. If agreed, this would not add to the overall use of the park across the year but would replace some existing activity.
• the Pride Village Party continue to go ahead on the Saturday and Sunday with slight changes to the times and a review of the footprint of the event.
• the Pride box office location to change to fit with other changes to the event.
• the Pride campsite to still be available as in previous years.

Councillor Alan Robins, Chair of the Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Economic Development Committee, said: “I’ve watched Pride events grow and evolve over its 30-year history, while maintaining a commitment to the city’s LGBTQ+ community.

“It continues to celebrate the unique diversity of the city, while providing fundraising opportunities for local organisations and benefits for wider city services.

“As the largest Pride event in Europe it also attracts national and international visitors to the city and brings a massive boost to the local economy.

“We want to continue to support Pride to be as inclusive, accessible and successful as it can be for many years to come.

“These recommendations will help ensure we learn from what’s gone before, take into account economic challenges, consider local views and embrace new opportunities.”

If agreed, the recommendations will be taken forward by council officers to work with Brighton Pride CIC in and in collaboration with Sussex Police, city wide emergency services, health partners and transport providers to make sure the events are well-managed and delivered safely.

You can read the full report on the council’s website ahead of being discussed at committee on Friday 8 December.