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Pride London is pleased to announce that there will be a street party in Soho on 3rd July 2010.  

Last week the charity was forced to take the difficult decision to withdraw from Soho after license negotiations and difficulties connected to the Crossrail roadworks concluded that the area was no longer viable for Pride’s usual event. Pride London has been locked in intensive discussions since then to try to resolve the loss of an event in this massively popular area on Pride Day. In a meeting last night, agreement was finally reached between Pride London, Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police to give the green light to a street party for London’s many LGBT revellers.

The area remains heavily restricted, and Pride London will not be able to put in stages or outside bars into the area, but all parties were pleased that an agreement could be reached to cater for the huge numbers that attend Pride London to have a safe environment.

Pride London will be providing security and stewarding for road closures as well as other assistance throughout the area and Westminster City Council will be taking responsibility for the clean-up. The Metropolitan Police will also be ensuring that the event is a safe and fun day for all.

Paul Birrell, Chair of Pride London commented

"After last week's disappointing conclusion that Soho was not viable for our usual Pride event, I’m genuinely pleased that we have been able to negotiate a street party for Soho with our colleagues in Westminster and the Metropolitan Police. Although we won't be able to put any stages into the area, having a street party in the area will still provide a fantastic day. We hope that Soho’s LGBT businesses can pull together and work with Pride London to help create the right atmosphere for the hundreds of thousands of attendees that look to London on 3^rd July for a great day out.

Westminster City Council, the police and the fire brigade all agreed that there was no way we could leave Soho empty on such an important LGBT day, and were as dismayed as we were that the event did not look viable. I am hugely grateful for their assistance and advice in reaching such an agreeable solution."