Notts Pride condemns commercial event using its name
Nottingham Pride has condemned an event with uses its name (Canva)
Nottingham Pride has condemned an event with uses its name (Canva)
A free-for-all Pride organisation in the East Midlands has condemned a group of businesses for scheduling an event – using the same name – for the same day as its annual Pride, leading to confusion amongst members of the local LGBTQ+ community.
Notts Pride, which celebrates Nottinghamshire’s LGBTQ+ community, is set to host it annual Pride event on 25 July 2026 in Nottingham, which is home to one of the most LGBTQ-friendly universities in the UK. However, Groovebox, Live Republic, Binks Yard and Horlock House are all jointly running their own event on the same day, entitled Nottingham Pride Fest.
Whilst the Notts Pride event is free, as it is every year, Nottingham Pride Fest is paid for, with tickets ranging in price from £16.75 to £29.95.
In a statement, Notts Pride called out the businesses using a similar name and scheduling their event for the same day, which the organisers say has caused confusion, “reputational harm” and “false impression of affiliation”.
“Since 1997 Nottingham Pride has existed with one purpose: to support, uplift and represent the LGBTQ+ community in Nottinghamshire. Nottingham Pride is a small authentically LGBTQ+ volunteer run charity,” the statement reads.
“No one takes a wage and every hour of work is given freely out of love, solidarity and commitment to our community.”
The organisers went on to outline how they work to deliver a Pride which is “free, accessible and safe”, adding: “Nothing Nottingham Pride does is easy, quick or done for profit.”
Noting that, they said it is “now time to publicly address the ongoing use of the name Nottingham Pride by the commercial event Nottingham Pride Fest, operated by Groovebox / Live Republic / Binks Yard / Horlock House”.
“This is not Nottingham Pride,” they stated.
“Nottingham Pride is a registered, volunteer led, LGBTQ+ charity that has served Nottingham community for over two decades.
“Nottingham Pride Fest is a ticketed commercial venture.”
The statement continued: “Businesses are entitled to run events, and many do but, using the name Nottingham Pride and scheduling it on the same day misleads the public and performers, causing confusing, reputational harm and the false impression of affiliation.
“Other than a tenuous and superficial partnership with an LGBT+ charity that has no link to our city, Nottingham Pride Fest does not support Nottingham Pride (Notts Pride) or its community work.
“This is a commercial event whose purpose is to generate revenue.
“Not to provide a free Pride, not to fund community safety and not to support the work that Nottingham Pride and other local LGBTQ+ charities deliver year round.”
The organisers urged the group of businesses to stop referring to the event as ‘Nottingham Pride’ as it is “misleading, and it disrespects our LGBTQ+ history”, adding the event remains free “because it must be accessible for everyone, not just those who can afford a ticket”.
The organisers concluded: “We hope you will listen and choose to engage respectfully by ending the use of Nottingham Pride in your event branding and communications.”
None of the businesses mentioned in the statement appear to have issued public comments on the matter.
However, a spokesperson for Live Republic Ltd told PinkNews that the brand is “seeking to do the best we can with the resources and partnerships we have”.
A spokesperson noted it has held a Pride event in Nottingham alongside Groovebox since 2024, with 2026 being their third year hosting such an event.
“Previously, we have supported The Spencer Trust, a local, Nottingham-based charity – last year we provided them with a donation of £1,000,” the spokesperson said. “Following our 2025 Pride event, we reached out to Notts Pride to discuss a partnership with them for upcoming events. They choose to refuse a partnership.
“As such, we are now partnered with a national charity that also functions in Nottingham, LGBTQ Foundation, and will be donating £2 per every ticket sold to them – in the interest of transparency, £1 of this will come from ourselves and £1 will come from the venue, Binks Yard. We are aiming to raise £3,000 in support of LGBTQ Foundation, which will help fund services locally and nationally.
“As a national company ourselves, holding events up and down the UK, we value supporting whole communities as well as local communities. The partnership with LGBTQ Foundation fulfils both of these objectives and we will be working with LGBTQ Foundation closely to ensure that the maximum benefit from the donations is received – as such, donations will be fully invested in the helpline that they operate in Nottinghamshire so that all individuals can have access to advice, guidance, and a listening ear.
“A formal request to the head office regarding a change of event name has never been sent from Notts Pride – we first heard of this request today when they issued their statement. We value feedback, however, and are now considering alternative events names to increase clarity for the general public.”
PinkNews has also approached Groovebox, Binks Yard and Horlock House in regards to the claims raised in Nottingham Pride’s statement but has not yet received a response.
