Best Bar None Awards

West Berkshire Council is working in partnership with Thames Valley Police and other local licencing authorities to hold a special awards ceremony as part of the Thames Valley Best Bar None (BBN) Scheme

Issued on 2 March 2010

Best Bar None is an accreditation and awards scheme designed to help raise standards in the licensed trade.

Successfully piloted in Manchester in 2003 and Home Office backed, BBN has gone from strength to strength with around 95 areas across the country now running the scheme.

Geoff Findlay OBE, Chairman of West Berkshire Council, will be presenting the Awards. He said, " As the former Executive Member with responsibility for Licensing, I am particularly pleased to present the BBN Awards. BBN recognises efficiently managed pubs that provide a safe and enjoyable environment for customers and discourage binge drinking to help prevent alcohol-related crime."

The awards are based on BBN core national standards with local flexibility to ensure local needs are addressed.

Four Newbury town centre venues participated and were judged by BII qualified auditors who assessed the premises in relation to the four licensing objectives introduced under Licensing Act 2003. These are:

1. Prevention of Crime and Disorder

2. Public Safety

3. Prevention of Public Nuisance

4. Prevention of Children from Harm

All four premises met 100% of the 'essential' criteria.

Each premises will be presented with the BBN plaque, a recognised quality brand, to display outside the premises as an indicator that the venue is working harder to give customers a safer night out.

All eligible premises in West Berkshire interested in taking part in the 2010 scheme should contact the Council's Licensing Team on tel: (01635) 519209 or email licensing@westberks.gov.uk

Further information is also available on the Thames Valley Area Best Bar None webpage.