Pride has been granted permission to use public spaces for its main Fabuloso event and street party by Brighton and Hove City Council.
The council also plans to start talks with Brighton Pride Community Interest Company about the future of the Pride Village Party and an extended run of events at Preston Park.
Councillors agreed in principle that Pride could use Preston Park for an extra weekend a year at a meeting at Hove Town Hall on Friday (8 December).
Any new events would not part of Pride but would have different branding, starting in 2025 and subject to community consultation.
Green councillor Steve Davis, who represents Preston Park, asked the council’s Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Economic Development Committee to ensure that there was a full public consultation, with a report back to councillors.
He was concerned that the important decisions could be taken by officials without oversight by elected councillors.
Councillor Davis said: “I don’t want to come across as a Pride party pooper. I’ve been going for over 30 years. I love Pride.
“However, it is in my ward and there is a huge effect on the park itself and the residents as well. I’m here to represent my residents.
“We can’t make the final decision on this report until we’ve listened to the residents of Preston Park.”
Despite his plea, the Labour-dominated committee delegated further decisions to the council’s executive director for the economy, environment and culture, Donna Chisholm, in consultation with the chair of the committee, Councillor Alan Robins.
He said that the community would be consulted and that decisions would be made “by extension” with the committee.
Councillor Robins added: “I shan’t sit in judgment and make the decision on my own. I would be discussing it with the group and taking into account anything local residents say. It’s not a case of riding roughshod over it.”
At the special committee meeting, council outdoor events manager Ian Baird told councillors that Pride next year would be similar in format to this year.
He said that the proposal for extra activities in the week before the familiar Pride celebrations would be a mix of free and ticketed events, dependent on public consultation.
A “suitable” charging structure for the use of public land and the impact on the city was also approved.
Mr Baird said that the council was looking to recoup the £100,000 cost of preparing for the large number of visitors and maintaining the city outside the Pride area.
Brighton and Hove City Council does not fund Pride directly.
Councillors also agreed that officials should work with Brighton Pride to look into the prospect of bidding to host Euro Pride in 2030.
I have just one word to say Really
What’s wrong with something else? Pride is already Brighton’s major event – it causes a lot of disruption to residents – I know – I’m one of them. I used to attend Pride for many years in its infancy & whilst it was about Pride & not money. Now the whole event is an exercise in money making – it happens too use Pride as branding. Sick & tired.
It will be something else possibly family and arts event not another weekend of Pride
If it was a bonfire and fireworks the council and police would be advising people to stay away.
only if the weather is bad
Perhaps we could have a series of classical music events in Preston Park? Just to increase diversity? Or close Pavilion Gardens on Summer evenings for some proper music? Just a suggestion!!! HaHa, but this is Brighton, gone to the dogs. Ps, not sure this country will be worth living in by 2030.
Your idea isn’t as silly as you might think. Brighton is all about diversity so why not? But your problem arises when the locals around the park start complaining that there are too many events held in the park. But we also have technology enclosed sound (where you need to be inside the ring of speakers to hear the sound) so there’s always another way we just need to talk it through.
That happening in Hove Park an new event
I agree. Brighton and the country have both gone to the dogs! Does anything else apart from Pride ever happen in this once rather pleasant city? Proper music in the parks would certainly be a start to improving its reputation so a good idea.
For someone who complains a lot, you never seem to provide potential solutions that are grounded within reality. I’d be interested to hear what you think would be achievable and how it could be done.
Well this is surely good news.
The pride organisers are so good for the city economy, and we can now look forward to a second weekend, and with different music audiences catered for.
Great for tourism and for our own summer outdoor fun.
Unless your local park, closed off to people for the week before and after, is now closed for nearer three weeks. It is unfortunate that opposing this places you in some unsavoury company, but this park is a vital resource year round, but especially in summer.
Pride takes place in July and August so all it does is displace other tourists as this is high season. The myth that is great economically for Brighton is true for Pride organisers and Gay Bars/clubs but adds no value to the rest of the city which would be packed with tourists 10 over regardless in August. It is about time instead of this Pride scope expansion we have a local referendum as to how big and long residents want it to be. Three days in Kemptown is already too much and it is unfair that the wishes of residents is being overridden by event organisers.
Quite right! The opinions of the majority of residents never seems to matter to those in charge.
possibly family and arts events, not another weekend of Pride
Don’t see much money in this. Parents will only pay so much for face painting but they will pay £150 a ticket to see some of the big names pride get to the music event.
It would be great to have classical music including modern and maybe poetry readings. Why not a Pride dog competition? And some opera: Lulu and Harvey Milk! Where’s the Opera house by the way?
There’s been a Pride Dog Show for years sponsored by Coastway Vets and organised by an experienced former events council officer.
Hove Park next year
A park dedicated for public use and enjoyment being closed for general use and a charge for admission. This is surely improper use of public open space.
Brightons biggest earner , why would you stop that ?
It’s not, actually. Although I can see why you’d think that.
Yet more chances for Pride to swear to God that Euro-Boy will be performing, and then let people down when he is a no-show.
For three years Pride have promised that Euro-Boy will attend, but consistently fails to turn up
This wealthy private event shouldn’t receive a penny piece of public money. And PS: it doesn’t need to.
It’s worth millions.
Meantime we seem to have one lonely and somewhat pathetic ‘Brilliant Brighton’ Christmas banner up by Waitrose to indicate it’s Christmas.
Is PrIde now the only occasion to be marked and given council money?
You raise a really good point. The council should have really focussed their spend on attracting tourists year round. The City doesn’t have an issue attracting tourists in July and August but making Brighton the best place to go shopping before Christmas would have helped huge numbers of businesses for a whole month. Thet should really start charging commercial land rate for these types of events and if Pride need to charge more to see Kylie so be it. There will be plenty of takers for these types of tickets.
What about a Traditional Family Pride event? I know loads of families who would come to that!