Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold and Carlsberg UK are sponsoring Best Bar None 2018, an awards scheme that encourages pubs and clubs to show how they are raising the bar on customer safety.
The Best Bar None Awards were launched in Northampton in 2010, opening up to the rest of the county in 2016. The scheme aims to reduce alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour and build relationships between licensees and the police and local authorities. The overriding aim is to improve standards in the night-time economy and make the community safer.
Licensees who take part are able to review and improve the management of their venue with the support of professional assessors from Northamptonshire Police and local authorities. Best Bar None provides nationally-recognised accreditation so that a venue can demonstrate it puts customers’ safety, as well as their enjoyment, at the heart of everything it does.
Since the scheme launched nationally in 2003, evidence has shown a reduction in alcohol related crime and an increase in business for the licensed trade in areas where this scheme has been run. Currently there are 75 towns and cities with active Best Bar None schemes.
Entries for Best Bar None 2018 are now invited. Representatives of pubs, clubs or bars across Northamptonshire have until the end of May to enter.
Assessors will be visiting venues throughout the summer and the Awards will be presented at a ceremony later this year.
Best Bar None is organised and managed by Northamptonshire Police Licensing Sergeant Martin O’Connell, working with partners from local authorities across the county.
Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said: “The Best Bar None Awards have a reputation for raising standards in the night-time economy and they are a benchmark for excellence and good practice. I am pleased to support this scheme, knowing that it is helping make Northamptonshire safer and I am particularly pleased that Carlsberg UK, one of the county’s most iconic businesses, is lending its weight to this initiative.”
Andrew Roache, Head of Corporate Affairs at Carlsberg UK said: “Supporting our local communities goes hand in hand with our role as a responsible business and specifically, our Together Towards ZERO sustainability programme, which includes an ambition to achieve zero irresponsible drinking through partnership working. As sponsors of the 2018 Best Bar None scheme, we are committed to supporting our local night time economy and helping to raise the bar in making our communities safer.”
Venues that reach the Best Bar None standard will be presented with their award at a ceremony in the autumn.
Sgt Martin O’Connell of Northamptonshire Police encouraged pubs and clubs to get involved.
“It is an aim of Northamptonshire Police and all its partners to make our night-time economies and licensed venues as safe and as welcoming for its customers as possible. Best Bar None is a fantastic way in which that partnership working is demonstrated and encourages local businesses to promote themselves as safe venues and learn ways of further improving in their policies, procedures and staff training.”
The application pack and full details of the scheme are available at www.bestbarnonenorthants.co.uk Entries must be received by May 31.
