Peterborough is unsafe at night

That’s if you believe what you read in local newspapers that is. To those thousands that travel into the city centre each weekend after hours, have a bite to eat and a bit to drink then maybe a dance and a kebab home, Peterborough is a pretty decent place.

Ok it’s no bustling metropolitan city like Manchester or Birmingham, but really who wants it to be? I personally don’t. Peterborough’s “that place” where people go to get their passport at the last minute. They didn’t know it existed before and they’ll probably forget again until they need another passport in 10 years time.

Today the Peterborough Evening Telegraph have released a Special Report (special no doubt because someone’s worked out how to do a survey with Google Documents) on whether Peterborough’s turning into a ghost town at night and asking if people feel safe when they’re out having a drink.

I personally think it’s in pretty bad taste and will only have a negative effect on a part of the city’s economy that is supposed to be struggling (as reported by the ET).

I really don’t understand where this whole idea of Peterborough city centre being unsafe at night has come from. I’ve spent countless nights in town as a group of lads and also out as a couple with the girlfriend and not once have I ever felt unsafe.
I’ve walked home by myself and also with a kebab for company, sometimes swaying from side to side with all the inebriation but have never once encountered any trouble.

The North Street venues on the edge of town have always lacked that wow factor to bring in the punters. Only Faith has proved attractive in the past as it’s a nightclub compared to a casual watering hole although I can’t comment on how good it is these days.

Elsewhere in town we have venues like the Solstice, The Drapers Arms (ok, it’s a Wetherspoons but at least it’s a bit more restrained than the College Arms), Brewery Tap and Verve (supposedly “specialist” but they serve anyone if their money is good).

Restaurants only suffer if they’re not up to standard but Peterborough has many great restaurants to choose from independent and chains - The Banyan Tree, Bombay Brasserie and Royal Spice for Indian cuisine; Edoya, Joy Wah and Imperial Bento for Oriental; Pizza Express, Prezzo, Ask and Pizza House for Italian… the list is truly endless!

Business owners need to innovate - like the Brewery Tap and Imperial Bento and not just become another Wetherspoons.
There’s been a lot of talk about Peterborough becoming a ghost town at night but that’s the same in pretty much every city in the country with the exception of London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, etc. At night people go home and sleep - it’s been like that for a few years now, in fact as long as I can remember people have slept at night time and I didn’t realise Peterborough was famous for it’s nocturnal residents.
Now Opportunity Peterborough / PCC want to open more cafes in place of the Corn Exchange but have they realised that cafes will close their doors in the evening too as customers won’t want to sit drinking coffee until the early hours?

Peterborough isn’t a major city, so stop with the delusions of grandeur. There’s nothing wrong with having pride with where you live, but I’m sure some people have had their heads in the clouds when they’ve come up with all the recent concepts and grand schemes for improving our little part of the country.

Is it possible that with all these horror stories being printed about Peterborough night life, more people will be put off from visiting the city after dark? I know news that “5,000 people had a lovely night last Friday in town frequenting the various bars, restaurants and clubs” doesn’t sell papers but it would go a long way to helping improve the image of the city.

Go on ET, do your bit for Peterborough nightlife!