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

The winners of Nottingham’s Best Bar None scheme this year were announced at a black tie ceremony at the City Council House on the 19^th August.

Squares, the Nottingham Ice Centre, Gatecrasher and the Toby Carvery in Wollaton won Best Pub, Bar, Club and Restaurant respectively in the Best Bar None Judge’s Choice awards.  Squares, a Tattershall Castle Group premises, also scooped the coveted Overall Best Bar None award for their exemplary policies and procedures.

Nottingham residents also made their voices heard, with nearly 2,000 people voting for their favourite accredited venues online.  Their winners were The Pit & Pendulum, The Rescue Rooms, Rock City and Bistro Live.

55 of the city’s bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants applied this year, and were assessed by teams from Nottingham Businesses Against Crime (NBAC), the City Council Licensing department and other representatives from the licensed trade.

The 75 assessment criteria included whether a venue had adequate crime reduction measures in place, policies to deal with things like drunkenness, refusal of entry and venue capacity, and the scope of its staff training.

51 venues passed the assessment to become Best Bar None accredited venues, and these made up the shortlist that Nottingham’s public voted their winners from.

The 3 highest scoring bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants also had their scoring notes anonymously scrutinised by a panel of expert judges from Rushcliffe Borough Council, the British Beer and Pub Association and Diageo to decide the “Best Bar None” winner in each category.

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, organisers of this year’s scheme, said: “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.

“Many of the award categories this year were very tight, which is a testament to the high level of regard the city’s licensees pay to their customers’ safety and overall experience.”

A full list of Best Bar None accredited venues can be found online at www.nottinghambbn.co.uk.