An innovative campaign to help revellers get home safely after a festive night out in Wolverhampton returns this weekend.

Type=image;ImageID=5812;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Michelle Steadman, Veronica Simpson with Councillor Elias Mattu;TitleClass=strong;

Type=image;ImageID=5813;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Promoting the Safer Nights campaign;TitleClass=strong;

Through the Safer Nights initiative, the Epic Youth Café based on Lichfield Street provides somewhere safe and warm for people of all ages to wait for a licensed taxi after their night out. They are also given a free hot drink or glass of water.

The scheme launches tomorrow (Saturday 29 November, 2014) from 11pm to 4am and will then operate every Friday and Saturday night until 27 December.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "Wolverhampton is a great place to enjoy a night out, especially at Christmas.

"Safer Nights is intended to make sure that visitors to the city centre round off a fantastic evening by getting home safely in a booked and licensed taxi.

"The Epic Youth Café will be fully staffed on the nights that the service is running and people will be able to enjoy refreshments in the form of a hot drink or glass of water while they wait for their taxis.

"This is the seventh year we've run a scheme like this and we know it's both popular and valued by everyone who uses it."

Safer Nights supports the existing taxi warden service, helping revellers get a licensed taxi home, which operates from Bilston Street on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The British Red Cross will also be providing medical assistance at the Epic Youth Café for revellers who have had one too many. This aspect of the Safer Nights campaign has been part funded by venues that are members of Wolverhampton's PubWatch scheme.

  • released: Friday 28 November, 2014