Best Bar None - the UK's national awards scheme for best practice in the licensed trade

Nottingham’s Best Bar None Awards Scheme, which recognises venues in the city that provide a safe environment for customers to enjoy a night out, has had more applications from venues than both of its previous schemes.

Nearly 60 city venues have applied for this year’s scheme, run by We Are Nottingham, which is the Business Improvement District incorporating all of the city’s licensed businesses.

The scheme is supported by NBAC and Nottingham City Council, who provide the expert assessors to visit venues and score them according to a pre-agreed set of criteria, such as how frequently they collect glasses and whether they have a weapons policy.

It has also received funding from both We Are Nottingham and the Home Office through the Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership.

Venues who meet all of the essential criteria are given accreditation under the scheme, and will display a Best Bar None 2010 certificate and window sticker.

Successful venues will also be put forward for a public vote, sponsored by Trent FM, which is for Trent FM’s “Best Customer Experience” in each category.  Voting opens on the 21st June and closes on the 1st August.   Visitors to the website www.nottinghambbn.co.uk will be able to vote for their favourite bar, pub, club and restaurant that have successfully been accredited through the scheme.

These awards join those awarded by a panel of judges, to those venues who the judges feel have demonstrated the most consideration for visitor safety and comfort.

Leader of Nottingham City Council, Councillor Jon Collins, said: “I am pleased to see that so many of our city centre venues have taken part in the Best Bar None scheme, which helps to reassure people going out for a drink in Nottingham about the venues they are visiting.  Many venues have demonstrated some extremely good management practices that go above and beyond the legal requirements of their licence, which helps to promote a safe, comfortable environment for visitors to our city.”

Sylvia Manser, Chief Executive of We Are Nottingham, said: “I am delighted at the high level of interest in the scheme this year by the licensees in the city.  Best Bar None is a great way for the businesses to work in partnership with the authorities to help make the city centre a better place for everyone to visit at night.”