Lichfield: proudly flying the Purple Flag
Great food. Brilliant independents. Culture, entertainment and a warm welcome. Discover why Lichfield is a Purple Flag city.
Lichfield has retained its prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for 2026, recognising the city’s safe, welcoming and thriving evening economy.
Whether you’re planning dinner with friends, cocktails in one of our independent bars, a night at the theatre or simply exploring somewhere new, Lichfield has plenty to offer.
Our Purple Flag status recognises not only the variety and quality of experiences available in the city, but also the work taking place to help everyone enjoy them safely.
What is Purple Flag?
Purple Flag is an internationally recognised accreditation awarded to towns and cities that offer a safe, welcoming and vibrant evening and night-time experience.
Much like the Blue Flag for beaches, Purple Flag recognises destinations that meet high standards. It looks at much more than the number of restaurants, pubs or entertainment venues in a city.
It considers the whole experience of visiting, including:
- Safety and wellbeing: Helping people feel safe, supported and welcome.
- Getting around: Making it easier for people to move around the city and get home safely.
- Food, drink and entertainment: Offering a diverse range of experiences for different ages and interests.
- The city itself: Creating attractive, welcoming places that people enjoy spending time in.
- Working together: Businesses, local authorities, police and community organisations working together to maintain high standards.
Purple Flag assesses destinations between 5pm and 5am, recognising the importance of a successful evening economy for residents, visitors and businesses.
Eat, drink and discover
Lichfield’s food and drink scene is one of the things that makes the city special.
Discover independent restaurants, cosy pubs, cocktail bars and cafés, alongside familiar favourites. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, meeting friends or looking for somewhere new to try, there’s plenty to explore.
Culture, music and entertainment
Make an evening of it with a visit to the Lichfield Garrick, discover live music and cultural events at The Hub at St Mary’s, or enjoy one of the many festivals and events that bring the city to life throughout the year.
Our historic city centre, cultural venues and independent businesses offer plenty of reasons to stay a little longer.
Enjoying a safe evening in Lichfield
A great evening out is about more than where you go. It’s also about feeling comfortable, welcome and confident while you’re there.
Lichfield’s Purple Flag accreditation recognises the work taking place across the city to create an enjoyable evening experience, with businesses, venues, volunteers, the police and community safety partners all playing their part.
The people helping to keep Lichfield welcoming
Our Late-night Listeners are an important part of Lichfield’s evening economy.
These volunteers engage with people in the city centre, offering a friendly presence and support to those who may need it.
Their contribution was specifically recognised by Purple Flag in Lichfield’s successful 2026 accreditation.
Plan Your Journey
Coming by train?
Lichfield City Station is just a short walk from Lichfield, with services running into the evening to help you get home each evening. West Midlands Railway has put together a handy guide to help you plan your journey to and from Lichfield.
Working together
Retaining Purple Flag is a collective achievement, made possible by the businesses, organisations and people who contribute to Lichfield’s evening economy.
Purple Flag is only possible because of the strong partnership across the city.
In Lichfield, this includes:
- Local businesses and venues
- Lichfield District Council
- Police and community safety teams
- Transport providers
- Local organisations and partners
Together, we work year-round to make sure Lichfield remains a safe and enjoyable place to visit.
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