Hertfordshire Pride event is cancelled after banners were torn down twice

A Pride event in Hertfordshire has been cancelled after organisers said banners promoting it were repeatedly torn down.

Loud & Proud had been due to take place at Shirley’s Roadhouse in London Colney on 20 June. The event was set to include tribute performances celebrating Christina Aguilera, Elton John and Britney Spears.

Organisers pulled the event after banners advertising it disappeared twice, alongside what they described as hostile reactions online.

“I thought we were living in 2026 and had moved on from this kind of discrimination” – Liz Needham, Liberal Democrat councillor for London Colney

Liz Needham, a Liberal Democrat councillor for London Colney, said the vandalism had left local LGBTQ+ people unsettled.

“I thought we were living in 2026 and had moved on from this kind of discrimination and was really hoping we could have a nice family-run event that would celebrate the LGBTQ+ community,” she told BBC News.

Needham said the first batch of promotional banners was put up around five weeks ago before being removed. A second set later went missing too.

“We know they have been taken down because of Pride, because other banners with other events on them have been left up,” she said.

Organisers said safety concerns led to the cancellation

Needham, who has been a parish councillor since 2023 and became a Hertfordshire county councillor in 2025, said she had previously helped at Herts Pride events in Watford and wanted to bring a similar event to London Colney.

In a statement posted online, organisers said safety concerns ultimately led to the cancellation.

“After another night where people have been out getting their kicks by vandalising and stealing property only connected to the Loud & Proud event, I have sadly taken the decision to cancel the event,” the statement said.

“My first responsibility is to ensure the safety of the venue, performers and attendees.”

At least 100 tickets had already been sold before the cancellation

The organisers added that the behaviour both “in the real world and on social media” had raised concerns about whether the event could go ahead without “ridiculous [security] costs”.

At least 100 tickets had already been sold before the cancellation, according to Needham.

“I would be surprised if LGBTQ people in London Colney are not very concerned at the moment to think a festival to celebrate their existence can’t happen because of attitudes,” she said.

Herts Pride is still scheduled to take place in Watford’s Cassiobury Park on 22 August.