Stamp of approval for nights out in Darlo!

A night on the town in Darlington has been given the stamp of approval by a team of experts from the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM).

Following a rigorous assessment process, ATCM reaccredited the town with purple flag status in recognition of our commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy. The accreditation, which is similar to the Blue Flag scheme for beaches and Green Flag for parks, has only been awarded to 80 destinations globally and aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am.

The prestigious award highlights Darlington's fantastic range and blend of entertainment, dining, and culture, as well as the overall safety and well-being of residents and visitors to the town. Assessors also gave special mention to the transformative improvement and regeneration projects happening across Darlington, and the continued efforts to improve active travel.

Cllr Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy said "Purple Flag represents the gold standard in the management of evening and night-time economies and we are delighted to have retained our accreditation, which is an outward sign that Darlington is a great place to live, visit or work.

“The 'after dark' economy is a key part of our local economic strategy, and we remain committed to attracting more businesses and investment to the town centre and continuing to developing our growing and vibrant town scene. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that Darlington is a welcoming and safe place for all and to establish the town as a destination of choice for people looking for something to do on an evening.

"Darlington Restaurant week is coming up at the end of February, and several café's, bars and restaurants in the town centre are offering fabulous deals - so why not make a night of it and see for yourself what we have to offer!"

Information about Restaurant Week and other events coming up in Darlington is available on the What's On pages of  www.enjoydarlington.co.uk