Busking
A guide to busking in Chester
Cheshire West and Chester Council recognises that Busking and Performing makes a valuable contribution towards the cultural life of the city, making the streets more vibrant and exciting for visitors, businesses and residents. In partnership with Chester Buskers Association, CH1 Chester BID, the Musicians Union, Equity and the Keep the Streets Live Campaign, Cheshire West and Chester Council is proud to present a new code of practice for Buskers and Street Performers working in Chester City Centre.
The new guidelines represent several months of ongoing consultation with the local community, organisations and key stakeholders. A trial period has also taken place to monitor and review how the new guidelines operate in practice.
It is important to note that the new guidelines represent a cultural change in the way street performances are managed in Chester City Centre. The guidelines recognise the rights of people to use public spaces for performance and entertainment, whilst adopting a framework that encourages users of these spaces to be considerate towards the people around them.
The guidelines encourage buskers, businesses and residents to consider the impact of performances in public spaces and to react appropriately. It is a shift towards a community response, based on positive communication and understanding, where buskers are encouraged to work with people in the local area to create a vibrant and cultural city centre, whilst trying to minimise any negative impact on surrounding businesses and/or people living nearby.