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

Sutton Best Bar None (BBN) 2011 got off to a rousing start yesterday (Tuesday 1st March) with the borough’s licensed premises giving the scheme an enthusiastic thumbs up against a musical backdrop of ‘We are the champions’. Fifteen licensees from pubs, bars and clubs across the borough attended the launch, which was being hosted by Sutton BBN scheme’s 2010 Overall Winner - The Woodman pub, High Street, Carshalton.

The Sutton BBN scheme, which was launched for the first time last year, is a partnership venture between Police, Sutton Council and local pubs, bars and clubs to recognise high standards of public safety and customer care in the borough’s licensed premises. The scheme’s key aims are to reduce alcohol related crime and disorder and promote licensed premises as places to be enjoyed safely.

Packed into the delightful, old world charm of The Woodman, with images of last year’s winners and accredited premises flashed up on TV screens around the pub, the licensees signed up to this year’s scheme and heard from four guest speakers.

Supt Phil Willis of Sutton Police station, outlined how important the scheme is to encourage higher standards year on year in the borough’s licensed premises and to reduce crime even further.

The Chair of Sutton’s licensing committee, Cllr Sue Stears, said BBN is the latest of many partnership schemes with licensed premises which include, Challenge 25, PubWatch and the Behave or Be Banned (BoBB) initiative. Cllr Stears said one good reason for joining the scheme is the Government’s proposal to bring in a late night charge for licensed premises to help pay for additional policing and street cleaning. “If this is introduced accredited premises under BBN will either be exempt from paying it or having a heavily reduced charge. Another good reason to apply,” she added.

Tony Hazeldine of the Royal Marsden cancer charity, said he was delighted that their hospitals in Sutton and Chelsea had been chosen as the Sutton BBN nominated charity for 2011. “Recent donations have allowed the building at Sutton of a new paediatric unit for the treatment of childhood cancer, a drug development and medical day unit and a diagnostic centre. We are so fortunate to have The Royal Marsden in the area.”

Host landlord Vicki Bayliss, of The Woodman, said being the winner of BBN 2010 was independent recognition for all the hard work they had put into building up and continually improving their business over the last few years.

 
Piret Papp, Assistant Manager, at The Treasury, High Street, Sutton, said: “The scheme helps customers get the best value and it reduces crime. We believe higher standards encourage better behaviour.”

Husband and wife team Robin and Natasha Wheeler, of the Newtown pub, Lind Road, Sutton, commented: “It’s real impact is in raising the standards across all pubs, bars and clubs across the borough. We are keen to support anything like this.”

Leigh Norris, of The Grange bar and restaurant, London Road, Wallington, said: “It gives licensees a great incentive to get it right and become well known for all the right reasons. It’s good for customers because keeping them happy means they will be returning and are less likely to go elsewhere - and it’s good for staff too because it creates a better working environment.”

Liz Tuffey, Deputy Manager at The Whispering Moon, Ross Parade, Wallington, said it makes a business feel good when they get accredited for their good work. “We’re going for it,” she said.