Safety concerns after Bristol ends nightlife partnership

Fears have been raised over the future of safety in Bristol’s night-time economy after the city council confirmed it will end its partnership with Bristol Nights at the end of March.

Reported by the BBC, the initiative, which has delivered major public safety campaigns across the city, has trained more than 700 night-time workers in safeguarding and supplied 260 anti‑spiking testing kits to venues. Around 100 businesses have now signed an open letter urging Bristol City Council to reverse its decision to terminate the scheme.

Council leader Tony Dyer said funding for the project — including the post of night‑time economy adviser — is due to run out, but stressed the authority would look for ways to continue working with the sector.

Prominent Bristol venues including Lakota, O2 Academy Bristol, Watershed and Bristol Old Vic have criticised the move, saying they were “concerned and shocked” by what they described as an attempt to “quietly close down” the partnership without consultation.

Thekla, the harbourside music venue, was among those signing the letter. Assistant promotions manager Harrison Baillie said the partnership had been vital in improving staff understanding of women’s safety, spiking risks and wider safeguarding issues.

In 2022, Bristol Nights received an award for its Women’s Safety Charter, which promotes zero‑tolerance policies on harassment in night‑time spaces.

Baillie warned that losing access to the partnership’s training and resources could have real‑world consequences. “I absolutely can see it affecting the safety of people,” he said. “If we lose access to these things going forward, then who’s to say what can happen.”

He added that the potential redundancy of night‑time economy adviser Carly Heath would remove a crucial communication link between venues and the council. “We at Thekla directly called for the appointment of a night‑time economy adviser in 2017 when developments on Redcliffe Wharf threatened our existence,” he said. “If we lose that direct line, we won’t be as safe.”

Heath, appointed in 2021 as Bristol’s first night‑time economy adviser, has been central to the partnership’s work.

Responding to the concerns, Dyer said Bristol Nights was originally created to raise the profile of the night‑time industry but had since expanded into harm‑reduction and anti‑violence work. He said the initial funding ended in 2023, with Public Health providing temporary support until March 2026.

Dyer acknowledged the pressures facing the sector and said the council would continue to listen and collaborate “where help can be given” to keep the city’s nightlife “safe and resilient”.