Following the first year of charging for the Brighton Pride village party last year, its organisers are repeating the fee this year. The £5 tickets, plus a mandatory donation to the Rainbow Fund – which makes grants to LGBT+/HIV organisations providing front line services to LGBT+ people in Brighton and Hove – are available from their website now.

Tickets for the main Pride Festival on Preston Park, which takes place on 1 August, are also available online at £18.50 – more than double its original release price of £9. The price is set to increase again closer to the event, and again on the day. Until 2011, the event was free, and relied on donations to cover its costs.

Residents, businesses and hotel guests within the village zone will once again receive free passes and can make a donation if they want.

Pride says that this year’s ticket prices reflect increased operational costs to stage the party, including £40,000 for security, £25,000 for policing, £15,000 for street cleaning and £15,000 for St John Ambulance cover.

Pride director Paul Kemp said: ‘As a not for profit organisation, Pride are unable to underwrite the anticipated increase in costs to operate the Pride Village Party. Increasing the ticket prices is the only way to ensure the costs of producing a safe and sustainable Pride Village Party for the future and to meet our community fundraising objectives.

‘We are committed to our ongoing fundraising for the Rainbow Fund who make grants to local organisations providing front line services to the LGBT Community in Brighton and Hove. With the help of local venues and city wide businesses who benefit from the Pride weekend, Pride are also committed to additional fundraising contributions to a new Social Impact Fund, a new community fund that we hope will benefit local projects.’

So that no one is excluded, anyone who volunteers will get a free pass for the weekend. Also people who volunteer two hours of time are able to apply for a free pass.