Airsec Group at the Bristol Life Awards: Supporting Propyard and Wake the Tiger

Creative venues need creative security. They need experienced professionals who can protect people, property and operations without taking away from the atmosphere that makes the venue special.

That is exactly what Airsec Group has supported through its long-term partnerships with Propyard and Wake The Tiger in Bristol.

Our team was working at Ashton Gate Stadium for the Bristol Life Awards when both venues were recognised for their contribution to the city. Propyard won the Events category, while Wake The Tiger received recognition in the Tourism category and was also awarded the Platinum award.

The evening provided a memorable opportunity to celebrate two valued venue partners. More importantly, it highlighted the role that professional, welfare-first security plays in helping Bristol’s creative, cultural and visitor attractions thrive.

Security that supports the experience…

For innovative venues, security cannot be treated as a separate function that operates in the background.

It must work alongside visitor services, venue management, event production, bar teams, medical personnel and front-of-house staff. Security officers are often among the first people a visitor meets and among the last people they see before leaving.

Their attitude matters.

At Airsec, our approach is based on being:

• Friendly and approachable
• Visible without being intimidating
• Professional and well presented
• Confident in difficult situations
• Focused on welfare and de-escalation
• Ready to help customers, colleagues and venue teams

This approach is particularly important at venues where people arrive to explore, celebrate, discover something new or enjoy a special event.

A strong security operation should give visitors confidence while allowing the venue’s identity to shine through.

A long-term partnership with Propyard

Airsec has supported Propyard since the venue opened, providing security for an evolving programme of large-scale events and immersive experiences.

Propyard transformed a former MOD torpedo testing warehouse into a distinctive Bristol events space. Its programme has included major music events, creative workshops, immersive exhibitions and seasonal attractions.

That variety means every deployment requires planning around the specific audience, layout, operating conditions and risk profile of the event.

Our work at Propyard has included security support for:

• Large-capacity Boiler Room events
• The Van Gogh immersive experience
• Winterland Ice Rink
• Live music and cultural events
• Visitor attractions and seasonal programmes
• Venue operations and overnight protection

The venue has benefited from a broad combination of static guarding, event security, door supervision, dog handlers and customer welfare staff.

This flexible model allows the security operation to change depending on what is taking place. A large music event may require entry searches, crowd management, response teams and ejections. An immersive visitor experience may require a more customer-service-led presence, with officers assisting visitors and monitoring the environment discreetly.

The core objective remains the same: protect people and property while helping the venue deliver an enjoyable experience.

Supporting Wake The Tiger from the beginning

Wake The Tiger is one of Bristol’s most distinctive visitor attractions, combining immersive environments, art, storytelling and exploration.

Airsec has worked with Wake The Tiger from the beginning of its visitor journey. A member of our team has been positioned on the door each day, providing a reassuring presence for visitors and practical support for the venue team.

The role involves much more than access control.

Our personnel have assisted with:

• First-aid incidents
• Lost-child procedures
• Customer welfare concerns
• Welfare responses involving intoxication
• Ejections where required
• Door supervision
• Event security
• Static guarding
• Alarm response
• Communication with venue management and emergency services

These responsibilities require patience, sound judgement and excellent communication. A visitor who is distressed, unwell or separated from their group needs help from someone who can remain calm and approachable.

That is why welfare is central to our work.

Security is not simply about preventing problems. It is also about noticing when someone needs assistance, acting early and helping the venue respond in a caring and proportionate way.

Recognition for Bristol’s creative venues

The Bristol Life Awards recognise organisations making a positive contribution to the city’s business, cultural and visitor economy.

At the ceremony covered by this case study, Propyard won the Events category. Wake The Tiger received the Tourism award and the overall Platinum recognition.

These awards belonged to the venue teams, creative partners, operational staff and wider communities that helped build such successful attractions. Airsec was proud to be present and to have played a supporting role in helping both venues operate safely over the long term.

The recognition also reflects the importance of venues that bring people together.

Whether visitors are attending a music event, exploring an immersive attraction, enjoying a seasonal experience or taking part in a creative workshop, they should be able to focus on the experience rather than worrying about safety.

Why manned guarding adds more than CCTV alone

CCTV monitoring is useful. It can provide valuable oversight, support investigations and help identify activity that requires attention.

However, for a busy creative venue, manned guarding is the superior security option when a visible, responsive and human presence is required.

A CCTV operator cannot always reassure a distressed visitor, assist with a lost child, provide immediate first aid, manage a queue or support an incident directly on the ground.

An on-site security officer can.

Static guarding provides:

• A visible deterrent to unauthorised access
• Immediate response to developing incidents
• Regular patrols of public and operational areas
• Support with opening and closing procedures
• Assistance for staff and visitors
• Protection for equipment, buildings and restricted areas
• Direct communication with venue management
• A practical link between CCTV, alarms and physical response

For Propyard and Wake The Tiger, this human presence has been particularly valuable. Both venues welcome a wide range of visitors and host changing programmes. Security must therefore be proactive, adaptable and customer-focused.

Our alarm response services can provide additional protection outside normal operating hours, but alarm response works best as part of a wider security strategy. Where a venue requires continuous reassurance, access control and immediate assistance, trained officers on site offer a more comprehensive solution than remote monitoring alone.

Prepared for routine duties and unexpected moments

A reliable venue security partner must be prepared for more than the obvious risks.

The day-to-day operation may include checking doors, monitoring entrances, patrolling public areas, supporting staff and responding to routine customer queries. At the same time, the team must be ready to manage unexpected situations calmly and professionally.

This can include:

• A customer becoming unwell
• A lost child or vulnerable visitor
• A dispute between customers
• An unauthorised person entering a restricted area
• An alarm activation
• An overcrowded queue
• A welfare concern involving alcohol or drugs
• Damage to property
• An emergency evacuation
• A customer requiring first aid
• A safe and orderly ejection

Our officers are trained to assess situations, communicate clearly and use de-escalation wherever possible. Where intervention is necessary, it should be proportionate, lawful and focused on protecting people.

That balance helps venues maintain their reputation while responding confidently to risk.

Security as part of your brand

For visitor attractions and event venues, security staff are part of the customer experience.

They represent the venue at the entrance, in queues, around public spaces and during moments when visitors may need help. Their appearance, communication and attitude can influence how safe and welcome people feel.

That is why Airsec goes beyond basic deployment. We work with clients to understand their environment, audience and expectations before building a bespoke plan.

Depending on the venue, this may involve:

• Static guards
• SIA-licensed door supervisors
• Event security teams
• Dog handlers
• Customer welfare officers
• Security supervisors
• Alarm response
• First-aid provision
• Radio hire
• Event medical support

The result is a joined-up operation that supports both safety and service delivery.

A trusted Bristol security partnership

The story of Propyard and Wake The Tiger demonstrates how security can contribute to the success of creative venues without becoming a barrier to enjoyment.

The best security teams do not simply stand at a door or respond when something goes wrong. They understand the venue, communicate with colleagues, recognise welfare needs early and remain ready to act when circumstances change.

Airsec is proud to support businesses and venues across Bristol with professional commercial security services, static guarding services, event security and door supervision.

If you operate a visitor attraction, events space, hospitality venue or creative destination and want to discuss a bespoke security plan, contact Airsec Group for a friendly, no-obligation conversation.

Award photography: Bristol Life Awards. The original partnership coverage is available through Airsec’s Propyard news archive and Wake The Tiger news archive.