2009 saw 99 Birmingham venues accredited to the Best Bar None scheme’s standard – more than any other participating Local Authority.
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.
Jacqui Kennedy, Director of Regulatory Services at Birmingham City Council, said: “I know that as the second city we have many, many excellent licensed venues that haven’t taken their rightful place as accredited for Best Bar None, so I’ve set a target for Birmingham to increase our number of accredited venues to 150 in 2010.”
Neil Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of Best Bar None, added: “It’s great to see Birmingham’s ongoing commitment to the Best Bar None scheme, which continues to help create safer, more prosperous areas up and down the country.”
Bruce Ray Director of External Affairs, Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, said: “Bacardi Brown Formans are thrilled to be sponsoring Birmingham Best Bar None again. The standards of the licensed premises in the city are second to none and we believe that this scheme is one of the best in the country. One of the most impressive features is the excellent partnership working. We are looking forward to the standards being as high as last year and attracting more expressions of interest”
The launch of this year’s scheme will take place at 2.30pm on Tuesday 26th January at the Dragon Inn at the Arcadian, Hurst Street.
ENDS
For more information please contact Hayley Meachin on 0121 303 1271/ 07920 750007 hayley.meachin@birmingham.gov.uk
Notes for Editors
In 2009 Redditch Road pub, the Man on the Moon won both the suburban pub category, and the overall award.
Other category winners were: Scruffy Murphy’s (independent venue); Dragon Inn (city centre pub); Revolution (city centre bar); Novotel (hotel bar); AIR (nightclub) and Joe’s Bar (suburban bar).
More than 1,200 public votes were also cast online for the Birmingham Choice category, won by the Broad Street Walkabout, with the Loft Lounge as runner-up.
