Best Bar None appoints new National Director

Best Bar None (BBN), the national award scheme aimed at promoting responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises in the night time economy is pleased to announce that Simon Jackson has been appointed by the national board as the new National Director. Reporting to Chief Executive, Tim Hulme, he will take up the post on 01 May 2013.

In his role Simon will work across the whole of BBN helping to grow wider audiences and revenues by developing new platforms that deepen engagement and provide new opportunities to all partners, schemes, licensed trade and government.

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New ale to mark Best Bar None success

A new ale with a name cleverly connected to the Best Bar None awards scheme is the latest edition to Doncaster's very own produce.

Following their prestigious win at last month’s award ceremony Cask Corner has joined forces with Mexborough based Imperial brewery to offer a real ale that has local origins and local meaning.

 Fast becoming renowned for its pale colour and distinctive taste, this limited edition 'Best Blonde Bar None' ale is helping to keep our vibrant evening economy thriving and is going down a treat with locals and tourists alike. It's also helping to raise awareness of the Best Bar None scheme which promotes responsible management and operation of alcohol-licensed premises with the ultimate aim of offering  a safer, more welcoming, attractive and lively drinking experience.

Mayor of Doncaster Peter Davies sampled the ale today and said: “It's important to celebrate local successes and this is a novel way of doing this, helping to keep the Best Bar None brand alive while also providing locals and tourists with a quality Doncaster product."

 Julie Buckley owner of Cask Corner added, “We are proud of winning this award and thought that as we are a real ale pub this was the perfect way to celebrate our win. We are really grateful to Imperial Brewery for helping us celebrate this great achievement”.

“MAKE PASS THE STANDARD” Campaign

The Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) is the UK’s national guarantee scheme for Proof of Age cards. PASS does not issue cards but regulates accredited schemes, which must submit to regular audits by trading standards officers in order to receive a licence to apply the PASS hologram to their cards.

Key Facts about PASS

The PASS hologram is a registered trademark and forgery of it is a criminal offence; to date a fake or forged hologram has not been found.

• Accepting a PASS hologrammed card which carries the bearer’s photograph and acceptable date of birth is due diligence, as advised by the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Trading Standards Institute (TSI).
• PASS is the "preferred proof of age" for both the Home Office and BiS/BRDO
• Around a third of young adults do not have a driving licence or passport so a PASS card may be their only officially recognised proof of age.
• From 2013 all national card scheme operators produce cards to the same standard format with the position of PASS hologram in the centre right of the card.

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BBN Winners rewarded at fourth Parliamentary Reception

Over 160 people attended a Parliamentary Reception at The House of Lords, Peers Dining Room to showcase Best Bar None (BBN) and all that has been achieved in the fight against alcohol related crime. More than half the attendees were Best Bar None Overall Award winners from schemes around the country.

 In his speech, Philip Kolvin QC, Chairman of BBN, stated:

 “Best Bar None is a grassroots movement rather than a national organisation, because the work which really matters is done by local schemes across the nation, bound to each other not by constitution or contract but by the values which we hold. At the heart of a Best Bar None venue is a commitment to its community, that the bar will do all in its power to ensure that its customers will be safe if they choose to spend their valuable time and hard earned cash there.”

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