Events in Parks

Bristol Parks Forum works with Bristol Parks and the Events team to try and simplify the system for licensing events in parks and green spaces while ensuring that events can be held safely and without excessive impact on other park users. We are keen to see more community events held in Bristol’s parks and we believe that events that are aimed at promoting the park or the park group should be lisensed by the Council without charge.

It is right that commercial events that use part of a park should pay charges for the ‘hire’ of the park. There also needs to be systems in place to ensure that all events are organised properly for the safety of those attending and other park users as well as making sure that the park is not damaged.

Rules for event licensing

All events in Bristol’s parks where more than 50 people are expected to be on site at the same time need to be licensed through the City Council Events Licensing team (note, this does not include guided walks or volunteer work parties / task days – see below).

For all events you need a Site Licence and Public Liability Insurance. The Licence is the landowner’s permission, licences for selling alcohol or for entertainment have to be applied for separately. For details see app.apply4.com/eventapp/uk/bristol. Licence charges depend on the size of the event, but for small community events you will only need to pay an admin charge.

Contact Bristol Parks first if you are considering a community event to support your group, they may be able to help with the above and get charges reduced.

Volunteer Work Parties / Task Days & Guided Walks:

There is a separate system that allows you to lead guided walks or to lead a group of volunteers carrying out work to improve your park while being covered by Bristol City Council Insurance. In order to do this you need to complete a short training session which will qualify you as a ‘competent person’. Then having agreed the work with your Community Park Officer you need to complete some simple paper work for each event.

You can get more information and download the Health and Safety Pack and Forms from the Bristol City Council website at www.bristol.gov.uk/parksafety.

Letter to BCC Events Team from BPF Working group 4th March 2011