How Brands Celebrate Pride in the UK: Bay Media Brings Colour to Brighton and Manchester

Lamppost banner advertisement showing how How brands celebrate Pride in the UK

Pride is a powerful statement of visibility and inclusion and Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising provides a canvas to broadcast these messages to the wider community. At Bay Media, we are proud of our long-standing role in helping brands and organisations share their support, connecting them with diverse audiences during Pride festivals across the UK.

This year, we were honoured to support two of the UK’s most vibrant celebrations: Brighton Pride and Manchester Pride. We partnered with several incredible campaigns, from TIGI Bed Head’s striking banners in Brighton to Manchester City Football Club’s eye-catching designs. Read on to discover how we helped these brands create unforgettable campaigns and how we can help you with your next Pride event.

How Brands Celebrate Pride in the UK: Bay Media Brings Colour to Brighton and Manchester

Turning Up the Volume: Bed Head at Brighton Pride

Brighton Pride 2025 exploded with energy and Bed Head was right at its heart. In collaboration with Bay Media and Cream agency, the campaign featured 32 bold lamppost banners across key seafront and city-centre locations, including Queen’s Road, King’s Road and Madeira Drive. These banners were impossible to miss, transforming the city’s main thoroughfares into an open-air gallery of style and self-expression.

Four distinct banner designs showcased a diverse mix of models and hairstyles, highlighting Bed Head’s product range while embracing Pride’s spirit of creativity and individuality. Anchored by the headline “Stay Headstrong,” the campaign celebrated the brand’s adventurous ethos while honouring the resilience and joy of the LGBTQIA+ community. The visuals themselves were a powerful statement, using dynamic photography and bold typography to grab attention from every angle.

With Brighton Pride attracting over 300,000 visitors, the banners ensured that Bed Head’s message became an integral part of the weekend’s visual identity, creating instant recognition and social buzz. The goal of the campaign was to resonate with its target audience of young, style-conscious creatives who could be drawn to the brand’s authenticity. The campaign’s reach extended far beyond, catching the eyes of international tourists and local salon professionals seeking inspiration. By blending bold design with strategic placement, the Bed Head Brighton Pride campaign was a perfect alignment of brand and moment.

Making a Statement in Manchester

Bay Media also played a pivotal role in Manchester Pride, delivering 102 banners across three separate campaigns. This year’s celebration, marking its 40th anniversary, was a ten-day showcase of diverse and engaging activities and our banners were a vibrant part of the city-wide festivities. We helped bring the messaging for three key campaigns to life:

  • Manchester Pride: The official campaign’s banners carried the simple yet powerful slogan “Everyone Welcome,” combined with the iconic LGBTQIA+ flag. Placed throughout the city, they served as a visual testament to the event’s core value of inclusivity and community.
  • CityCo: Promoting the SCENE queer film & TV festival, these banners were designed to be as dynamic as the festival itself. Featuring playful colour combinations like bold pink and sunny yellow, they were aimed at appealing to a young, artistic audience.
  • Manchester City FC: This campaign was a great example of how a major brand can authentically engage with the Pride community. The banners seamlessly merged the club’s recognisable crest and sky-blue colours with the vibrant Pride flag, demonstrating how an organisation can celebrate diversity while staying true to its identity. This partnership highlighted how passion for both football and equality can go hand-in-hand.
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Our partnership with Manchester Pride is a long-standing one, stretching back a decade to 2015. This enduring relationship highlights the power of Out-of-Home (OOH) media. The city-wide visibility of these campaigns transformed banners from simple advertisements into an essential part of the festival landscape. They not only caught the eye at street level and helped guide footfall, but also created memorable, tangible moments that audiences could connect with and remember long after the event concluded.

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Why OOH Works for Pride

Out-of-home advertising is particularly effective for Pride events because, as Outsmart notes, it is authentic, tangible and trustworthy. Unlike fleeting digital impressions, OOH media is part of the real-world experience, resonating with audiences who value visibility, representation and community. By placing creative and inclusive visuals on key streets, brands can ensure they stay culturally meaningful.

At Bay Media, we help brands bring colour, creativity and inclusivity to city streets. By combining striking design, strategic placement and a deep understanding of audience culture, we can ensure your brand isn’t just seen, but that it becomes an authentic part of the festival experience.

Ready to make a statement at your next event? Contact our team today.