Last year saw 99 Birmingham venues accredited to the Best Bar None scheme’s standard, more than any other participating Local Authority, and this year organisers are hoping to top 150.
Sponsored by Bacardi and run by Birmingham City Council, in partnership with West Midlands Police and the West Midlands Fire Service, the scheme, now in its third year, rewards good management from licensees in discouraging binge-drinking and helping to prevent alcohol related crime.
Birmingham pubs, clubs and bars are assessed on criteria such as door and security policies, first aid, how they deal with abusive customers and what systems they have in place to deal with alcohol related crime. As well as an overall winner – Best Bar None – there will be winners and finalists for seven categories: best city centre pub; best suburban pub; best city centre bar; best suburban bar; best nightclub; best hotel bar; best independent venue. Those places that are accredited to the scheme – even if they don’t win an award – will receive a Best Bar None plaque to display in their premises.
Please click here to view the Best Bar None Leeds document available on the Home Office website to see how Leeds Metropolitan University has contributed to the research of Best Bar None in Leeds.
Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Tobias Ellwood MP delivered a commitment to support the licensed retail sector and small businesses in general with variety of measures, including a six month freeze on VAT for struggling pubs, at the Best Bar None (BBN) annual conference.
Over 200 people gathered at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester to hear an update on the latest developments with BBN. Tobias Ellwood was keynote speaker at the event, which also saw Durham BBN announced as the most innovative scheme for 2009.
Tobias congratulated delegates for taking the initiative and using BBN to drive up standards in the industry. He commented: “I am delighted to have participated in today’s BBN conference and show my support for this excellent initiative which grows from strength to strength each year.
“BBN is successfully motivating local businesses to tackle the challenges that arise from alcohol related behaviour in a way that legislation alone could never replicate. I hope to see further schemes established across the country and would welcome a continued dialogue with BBN as we continue to debate licensing proposals.”
BII, the professional body for the licensed retail trade, is pleased to announce that in recognition of their significant achievement, all three category winners of individual BBN schemes (i.e. best bar, best pub and best club) will be awarded free membership for one year as part of their prize. Any prize winners who are already BII members will also receive one year’s complementary membership.
In addition BII is pleased to waive all joining fees of BII membership for all category finalists.
To take advantage of this offer, please contact BII Membership ‘
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
’ of call 01276 684449 and ask for membership.
