No pride... but parties on Drake's Island! It's the Midweek Beagle on Wednesday April 2, 2025

Plymouth Pride cancelled. House parties on Drake's Island. Plans approved for a new-look to the Promenade cafe. And much more - with no annoying pop-ups or adverts

Lack of Pride…

This summer’s Plymouth Pride event, which was due to take place on The Hoe on July 12, has been cancelled. Organisers have blamed a lack of both finances and volunteers. They’ve also admitted that the long-term future for the event is uncertain.

A spokesman said: “Despite our best efforts, the lack of national and local funding, alongside a decline in volunteer support, has made it impossible to deliver the event this year. As we look to the future, for Plymouth Pride to remain free and sustainable, we need significantly more support—both financially and through volunteer participation. Without increased sponsorship, community donations, and volunteers, the future of Plymouth Pride is at serious risk.”

Organisers said that despite the sad news, they remain committed to keeping Pride alive. “We are hoping to organise fundraising events throughout the year to build financial resilience and keep the community connected. Pride is not a single-day event, but a legacy for equality and visibility in Plymouth.”

Last year’s Plymouth Pride made a loss of £12,000.

But a party at Drake’s Island

Oh joy. A promotions company is hosting “big, fat parties” on Drakes Island this summer. Casa Events, which labels itself as the organiser of South West England’s biggest house and techno parties, has advertised its “biggest outdoor events ever” - giant parties on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, and all repeated the following Saturday, July 12.

Tickets for the first two parties sold out in minutes.

Ferries will ship revellers from the Barbican to the island each lunchtime, with the parties due to end at 9pm. “The location we all thought wasn’t possible... happening 2025” said Casa.

Neither the scale of the events, nor the detail of what is planned, have been revealed.

The Beagle assumes generators will have to be shipped to the island, as well as staging, lights, toilets and catering.

The island remains officially for sale, with owner Morgan Phillips telling Plymouth Live earlier in the year that he was hoping to find a major investor, and that he was planning to stage some “bespoke” musical concerts this summer - but stated this “would not be a rave”.

Promenade Cafe plans approved

Plans for a glazed two-storey extension and new roof sun terrace at The Promenade cafe at the Hoe Lodge have finally been approved by the City Council. Owner Sarah Lock must start the work within three years. The plans were first revealed nearly two years ago, after Ms Lock and colleague Bianca Parker took on the cafe. Ms Lock also owns Quay 33, The Harbour, and Harbourside Fish and Chips on the Barbican.

…and another rooftop “bar”

Plans have been submitted to install rooftop railings on top of the Citadel Court flats in Elliot Street. The railings are to provide safety for workers, and the application stresses that there will be no use of the flat roof as a roof terrace.

Sanctuary Housing has instructed Hart Ireson to manage the application to the City Council. The work will also see replacement UPVC windows and doors installed. Comments to the council should be submitted by April 29

Where will they build them?

Plymouth city centre could supposedly see up to 10,000 new homes built over the next decade as part of a new working relationship between the City Council and Homes England.

A new Plymouth City Centre Vision sets out a shared ambition to provide more homes as the Government invests around £4.4 billion in HM Naval Base Devonport. This will require 5,500 new employees and a further 2,000 construction jobs and will stimulate demand for more places to live.

The plans will be a step change for the city centre, which currently has fewer homes than other cities of a similar size. They include the regeneration of the Civic Centre, which will see the creation of City College Plymouth’s new Blue Green Skills Hub to deliver 60 new courses to 2,000 students.

We Will Remember

A big VE Day 80 event on the Hoe will be the centrepiece of Plymouth’s commemorations to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.

The event on Thursday 8 May will feature a flag-raising ceremony, full parade of standards, ships in the Sound, a street party, live music throughout the day, stalls and vintage vehicles. The evening will conclude with a sunset guard lighting the Plymouth beacon.

Communities are also being encouraged to organise their own street parties. Road closure fees are being suspended for street parties held between Thursday 8 and Sunday 11 May. The deadline to apply for a road closure is 11 April.

Award winning concrete?

The work to rejuvenate New George Street in the city centre has been recognised in the Best Landscape category at the Concrete Society Regional Awards (Devon and Cornwall) - yes really!

The accolade recognises the “transformational regeneration of a formerly dated shopping street, now revitalised with high-quality materials to create a modern retail area fit for the 21st century.”

RSPCA fundraiser

The RNLI is recruiting fundraisers to work on Plymouth waterfront. Teams of RNLI fundraisers are based at various lifeboat stations, outdoor events and at several indoor sites at coastal resorts around the country.

The charity says “RNLI face-to-face fundraising is a job with a difference. You'll inspire support for our lifesavers' amazing work, and you'll also play a vital role in educating the public.”

Full training is given, and the roles do not have fixed hours.

For more information and to apply click here

📅📅📅 Beagle Social calendar:

😂 Mo Gilligan at the Pavilions on Thursday

Triple BAFTA-winning stand-up sensation, Mo Gilligan, returns with his highly anticipated World Tour… In the Moment at The Pavilions tomorrow night (Thursday). As one of the UK’s biggest comedy stars, Gilligan has achieved phenomenal success in just a few short years with two sold-out national tours including London’s O2 Arena, three stand-up specials, and numerous smash hit TV credits to his name.

🦈 The Shark Is Most Definitely Not Broken

The Shark Is Broken - an at-times brilliant drama offering a behind-the-scenes look at the tensions and camaraderie between the three lead actors of Jaws while filming Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster movie - every evening this week at Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday, with matinees on Thursday and Saturday.

🎺Best in Brass

Award-winning Welsh brass players The Cory Band are at Plymouth Methodist Central Hall this Saturday night (April 5) at 7 pm with a programme featuring their 2024 Brass in Concert championship-winning set, ‘The Magnificent Seven’! Buy tickets: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/coryband/t-gakamox

🏉Up The Albi!

Plymouth Albion’s last home match of the season is on Saturday, April 12. It promises to be a great afternoon before the season wraps. After the final whistle, there is live entertainment in the Stormforce Marquee and keep the momentum going! The match kick off is 3 pm