A new home has been found for Kent’s biggest Pride celebration as their usual venue shuts all summer for Levelling Up works.

Grassed areas in Dane John Gardens, Canterbury, will be closed to the public until December.

The park usually plays host to the city’s huge annual LGBTQ+ celebration, which sees around 20,000 visitors.

Now, bosses have announced a new, one-off venue for the festival.

Westgate Gardens, at the other end of the city centre, will be filled with community stalls, food vendors, and a scaled-down celebration on June 7 instead.

The day will begin with a city centre parade starting and ending at Westgate Towers.

Canterbury Pride says while the “full scale” event in the Dane John has been postponed until 2026, the team has worked to “ensure the city continues to celebrate Pride in a meaningful way this year”.

When the length and scale of works in the Dane John were announced by Canterbury City Council (CCC) last month, it sparked backlash from locals.

One said the lack of green space in the park would “ruin her year”.

The improvements planned include resurfacing all the pathways, new benches, new lighting, refurbishment of the Dane John Mound and new flower planting.

Pride director Jonathan Fitter-Harding said: “With the council’s decision to close Dane John Gardens to events this year, we knew we had to find a way for Pride to still happen in the city in 2025 — even if it looked a little different.

“This new concept gives us the chance to celebrate in the heart of Canterbury and ensures the community still comes together in a way that is visible and fun.”

Stephen Sullivan, entertainment director, added: “Our long-term vision for Pride Canterbury remains stronger than ever.

“Plans are already underway to return to Dane John Gardens in 2026 with the full-scale Pride event that people know and love — but for this year, we’re excited to create something special, inclusive and local for the whole community to enjoy.”

The event will remain free to attend and open to all.

Previously, CCC’s head of digital, data and improvement, Caroline Marlow, said the summer closure was necessary due to several reasons.

"Of course, if we had a magic wand, we would carry out the work when the fewest people take advantage of the Dane John and it causes the least amount of disruption,” she stated.

"But a combination of factors makes this impossible.”

She adds dry weather means less damage to the landscape, lawns and tree roots from vehicles and workers churning up the ground.

It will also keep the site clearer of mud and will be less likely that any holes dug for cables for lighting, drainage channels, and new flower beds will fill up with water.

Ms Marlow also says it is less likely that water erosion will impact sensitive areas, such as the Dane John Mound and the banks of the city wall.