The second Best Bar None (BBN) National Conference will take place on 14 October 2009 at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester.
Leicester has been selected as the venue because Leicester BBN were crowned “most innovative scheme” at the 2008 conference. They fought off competition from over 80 BBN schemes throughout the UK.
The conference will feature BBN news and best practice from around the country and views from senior people in the licensed retail industry.
Neil Robertson, BBN Chief Executive, said, “This will be an exciting conference. It was over subscribed last year so we’ve increased capacity but please get your booking forms in early. It’s only £30”
The Responsible Drinks Retailing (RDR) Conference date has been announced.
12 November 2009
The Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, London
Full details and an entry form can be obtained from Rikki Mudle on 01293 610396 or email
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At this week’s board meeting of responsible alcohol retailing scheme Best Bar None, Chairman Lord Rupert Redesdale shared his intention to table an amendment to the mandatory code of practice element of the Policing and Crime Bill. This he did on Wednesday 17th June.
He also discussed with board members a letter that Best Bar None is sending to Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP expressing deep concern about the wide-spread damage to the licensed retail industry that will be caused by the suggested conditions. The letter explicitly asks him to scrap the proposals.
Lord Redesdale commented: “BBN board members supported this action and the key industry bodies and associations agreed to put their names to the letter. All 80 plus Best Bar None schemes have received a copy of the letter and we have asked them to send a hand-written version of it to their local MP copying in Alan Johnson. BII members are being asked to do the same.”
The hard-hitting letter states that ‘The planned mandatory conditions for all licensed premises are for the most part blanket, indiscriminate and disproportionate. Existing legislation can deal with irresponsible on and off trade retailers.’
It goes on to say ‘Collectively, Best Bar None, BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), the ALMR, the FLVA, Noctis and the BBPA – the trade bodies and associations which have given their support to this letter – represent circa 75% of the businesses operating in the licensed retail industry. …….. Our members provide employment for young people starting out in their careers, make a significant tax contribution and contribute around £80k per annum to their local communities and economy. The added burden of these mandatory conditions will close pubs and decimate a vital UK industry.’
All 15,000 members of BII are being sent copies of the letter to forward to their local MPs and the other associations have been approached to do the same. Lord Redesdale continued: “This activity is the industry at its best; uniting against legislation that could have wide-reaching and disastrous consequences. I have tabled the amendment and we await a response and the outcome of the consultation into the mandatory code with great interest.”
If you require a copy of the letter please email
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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 ‘
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’ of call 01276 684449 and ask for membership.
