Best Bar None - National UK Awards Scheme

The agenda for the national BBN conference has been released. The guest speaker for the day is still yet to be announced but the agenda is packed full and highlights will include:

• What BBN aims to achieve in the future
• BBN Innovative practice
• What it means to win the title "Most Innovative Scheme" by the 2008 winners, Leicester BBN
• The winner of the 2009 Most Innovative scheme will be announced.

To view the 2009 agenda, please click here

The historic Mansion House was the focus of attention for licensees throughout Doncaster at the launch of the 2009/10 Best Bar None (BBN) awards on Tuesday 1st September.

Licensees and guests were given the opportunity to find out about the success and achievements of Best Bar None over the past year and also about plans for the future.

Best Bar None is a nationally accredited and recognised scheme and was originally launched in Doncaster in 2006. There has been a massive impact over the last three years with the introduction of Best Bar None and a phenomenal 70% reduction in alcohol related incidents in the bars, pubs and clubs that have been accredited by the scheme.

This is great news not only for the customer who can take comfort in the fact that should they visit a Best Bar None Venue, they are in a safe and relaxed environment, but also for the licensees who by offering this sort of environment and being accredited by the scheme, should see a significant increase in custom to their establishment.

Safer Doncaster Partnership is working with Best Bar None with the shared aim of focusing on safe and responsible management of licensed premises with the ultimate intention of offering and maintaining a much safer and welcoming town.

The launch at Mansion House received an extremely positive response with a great deal of interest in the scheme and the benefits that are included.  

Representatives of Pubwatch schemes from across the borough were amongst the guests who also enjoyed a buffet lunch accompanied by a drinks reception courtesy of sponsors John Smiths and Britvic. 

Durham City Nightclub, Loft, was yesterday stripped of their Overall Winners and Best Night Club Category Winners Awards.  This was due to the detrimental impact their recent drinks promotions advertising has had on the work and profile of Durham City Best Bar None.

Whilst the organisers of the scheme want to see Durham City licensed premises survive the current economic climate, a fair balance between the needs of businesses and the wider needs of Durham City Centre must be considered.

The licensees and partners involved in Durham City Best Bar None are justifiably proud of the achievements of the scheme and the improved profile of Durham City’s Night Time Economy.  The success has been seen, both at a local and national level, with the City gaining one of the highest take up rates nationally and the tremendous drop in Alcohol related crime locally.

Carol Feenan, BBN Manager said:  “The promotions that Vimac Leisure are currently running at The Loft,  have endangered the unity gained amongst our licensees to an extent that they are bringing the reputation of Durham City Best Bar None into question. 

This is both an extremely unfortunate and extremely regrettable situation but it is a measure that we have had to make as the promotional material generated by Vimac was something that Best Bar None could not support.”

Consultation took place between the partner organisations and the National Best Bar None Office and the decision was made to withdraw both of the Awards for 2009 as their actions were viewed as being fundamentally against the overall objectives of the scheme.

Sgt Steve Norris, BBN Manager said:  “We were extremely disappointed to see our Overall Winners publicising such promotions.  We have made the decision not to exclude them from the scheme, as our organisations wish to continue to work with Vimac Leisure, but within the framework of the scheme.”

Now is the chance to prove why your scheme is the Most Innovative BBN Scheme in the country. The award is running at this years conference at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester on 14 October 2009.

All you need to do is complete the form attached an in no more than 100 words tell us why you think your scheme is the most innovative.

Following a paper judging, four finalists will be selected and invited to give a five minute presentation at the conference about their scheme and outline the reasons why it should be recognised as the ‘most innovative’

The winners & finalists prizes will be disclosed nearer the time to the conference.

Delegates at the conference will vote on the winner. The victorious scheme will then be announced towards the end of the conference and presented with their prize.

Get the national recognition your scheme deserves. Email your 100 words to Sarah Walker by the closing date of 04 September 2009

Click here to download the form.