Best Bar None Scotland

This new addition to the partnership will ensure that the reach will be even broader and swifter and has been welcomed by Mandy Haeburn-Little, Director of the Scottish Business Crime Centre, which administers BBN in Scotland, "All the partners are delighted to welcome Tennent's, not only to be a part of the scheme in Scotland, but also as a key member of the Board.  Every new partner brings a new set of skills and interests and this will be reflected in new categories announced in the awards at the end of the year.  Tennent's has numerous interests to bring to us, including festivals and sports interests, and all of these are intrinsic to the future expansion of more attractive and secure venues".

Tennent's Managing Director, John Gilligan, commented: "Tennent's Caledonian Breweries is delighted to join the Best Bar None Scotland scheme as a funding partner.  We take our commitment to promoting responsible drinking very seriously.  As Scotland's leading brewer, we believe this is an important step to help make our high streets an even better place to socialise and relax.  We are keen to work with Best Bar None Scotland to help make our hospitality sector a world leading industry for the future."

This represents a substantial milestone in the development of the scheme. Partners in Scottish Government, the NHS, the alcohol industry, Police Scotland and the Best Bar None Board are now working together in tracking and evaluating the benefits of accredited pubs and bars which meet the high standards of safe, secure, and customer focused premises.

This new pilot extension is being undertaken with the support of the Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership (SGAIP) and will ensure that full evaluation of the scheme is available assisting in future development. It will also provide vital information to assist in encouraging a more responsible attitude to alcohol in Scotland. The project is being locally coordinated by Police Scotland through the Airdrie & Coatbridge Licensing Section.

Explaining the significance of the pilot from the SGAIP perspective, Mark Baird from Diageo, which is also the founding partner of the BBN scheme in Scotland, commented: "Best Bar None has made some very significant and positive changes in the last year and we are genuinely delighted to see the take-up, not just from the licensees themselves, but also from consumers who are actively choosing more attractive and safe premises to visit.  We are all keen to see Scotland become an even more attractive place to visit and this latest welcome involvement from the SGAIP means that for the first time all the partners will work together in a concerted way to understand why Best Bar None works in an area and how to evaluate all the different aspects.  So working together with the Government, the NHS and the Police and Fire Services is excellent news."

The partnership approach has also attracted support from the Scottish Government.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: "The launch of the Best Bar None pilot in Airdrie and Coatbridge is another step forward in changing Scotland's relationship with alcohol. By promoting responsible management and operation within pubs and clubs, the scheme will encourage people to enjoy a drink in a safe and welcoming environment, while cutting problems like binge drinking and alcohol related disorder. I am pleased to see the involvement and enthusiasm of so many local partners alongside the support of the local police, Scottish Business Crime Centre and the Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership. I hope the pilot will lead to a model that can be replicated across Scotland to benefit many more pubs at the heart of our communities."

A Fraserburgh bar - Cheers Cafe Bar in Broad Street - has won three categories at the third national Best Bar None awards held this evening (3 March) at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh.  Cheers Cafe bar won the Best Bar, Best Public Health Initiative and Best Use of Innovation categories and was presented with the awards by radio presenter Fred MacAulay.

Three bars in Dundee - Tickety Boo's (Best Pub), The Vu (Best Nightclub) and Dundee Students Association (Specialist Entertainment Venue) - won the remaining top awards against stiff competition from a total of 32 finalists across Scotland.

The national judging panel consisted of Mandy Haeburn-Little from the Scottish Business Crime Centre, Katie Mackie from Molson Coors, Andrew Lawrence of Diageo GB, and Richard Norman of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.

One of the judges, Mandy Haeburn-Little, said: "The awards event has grown each year and the calibre of finalists on this occasion has really been outstanding.  The north of Scotland has certainly come up trumps and demonstrated real commitment to safety and quality customer service."

Ten new areas are expected to come on board this year with potentially dozens of licensed premises joining the scheme.

The Best Bar None scheme is aimed at promoting responsible management and operation of licensed premises in Scotland.  It rewards safe and well-managed licensed venues with the issue of a certificate, plaque and the chance to go forward to the national awards ceremony.
Best Bar None is sponsored by Diageo, Molson Coors and Heineken and is supported by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Business Crime Centre.

Best Bar None Scotland 3^rd National Awards - Finalists 2013

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