Brief
We Are Placemaking were appointed to deliver the UK’s first free competitive socialising weekend at Brent Cross Town. The brief called for an event that would bring public spaces to life, encourage broad participation, and position Brent Cross as a vibrant destination for sport, play, and community connection. The programme needed to resonate with residents, workers, and visitors alike, offering high-energy but accessible experiences that aligned with the long-term placemaking vision for the town. As part of the weekend, World Chase Tag was invited to take part, drawing teams from across the globe and transforming Brent Cross into both a competition hub and an open playground where the public could join in.
Images taken by John Sturrock
What we did
To meet this vision, we curated a two-day programme of competitive and playful experiences across Exploratory Park. Visitors were invited to take part in activities such as 108 Baseball, Bungee Run, Last One Standing, Batak Pro, Catch It, High Ropes and the Climbing Wall, each designed with scoring or leaderboard elements to create a sense of achievement and fun. The centrepiece of the weekend was World Chase Tag, which brought together professional athletes and local participants, with coaching sessions and open challenges ensuring that the community could get involved. Team heats and live leaderboards encouraged people to compete in pairs or groups, while free access to all activities kept the event inclusive and welcoming to everyone.
Alongside the core programme, the event featured supporting activations around sport and play, with digital registration, promotional lead-up events and community outreach helping to extend impact beyond the weekend itself. A Greek food trader and a bar provided refreshments, adding to the social atmosphere and giving visitors another reason to linger and connect. The result was an event that blended spectacle and participation, inviting locals and visitors not only to watch but to play, interact and engage. It transformed Brent Cross into more than a development site, showcasing it as a lively, accessible destination for activity, connection and community life.
Deliverables
- Event & Production Management: Full creative concept development, budgeting, scheduling and on-site management.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Coordination with Brent Cross Town, Barnet Council, landowners, activity partners, and local groups.
- Supplier Sourcing & Management: Engaging activity providers, safety contractors, equipment hire, and staffing.
- Logistics & Operations: Designing safe routes, staging, load-in/out plans, crowd management, and site infrastructure.
- Marketing & Registration: Promoting via local channels, managing sign-ups for challenges, and publishing live results/leaderboards.
