Best Bar None Scotland

The Aboukir Hotel, the Angus overall winner of Best Bar None 2011, has received a finalists' award from Scottish Business Crime Centre . The announcement was made at the National Best Bar None awards held recently in Glasgow.

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Mandy Haeburn-Little, Director of SBCC, explains: "We all want a safer Scotland and want to see the experience of going out as fun but safe occasion for all age groups.

"Having international leading brewers like Molson Coors and HEINEKEN join Diageo, who is the world's largest producer of spirits, is a massive boost for us and provides solid endorsement of the value of Best Bar None Scotland.

"We now want to use this support to help us propel the scheme to the forefront of consumer awareness.

"It's our hope that before long, anyone for example arriving in a Scottish town or city for the first time, will be able to go onto the Best Bar None Scotland website to find bars or clubs that they know excel as being safe for women, for people traveling on their own or child-friendly.

"Members have delivered outstanding customer service and created innovative ways to improve the environment inside and outside pubs and clubs, which has played a powerful role in changing Scotland's relationship with alcohol."

Best Bar None Scotland is an integral part of the Safer Areas Initiatives within Scotland and was created as a means of promoting positive relations between Police, Fire and Rescue Services, licensed trade and local partner agencies.

The scheme focuses on safety and customer care, and gives each licensed venue the opportunity to prove it meets a standard of operation set in consultation with the police, government and alcohol industry at a national level[LN(1] .

It rewards safe and well-managed licensed venues with the issue of a display plaque which can be used to promote the venue. The overall aim of the initiative is for partner agencies to work together with licensed premises to create a safer and more welcoming city and town centre environments.

A new Best Bar None Scotland Board has just been formed comprised of representatives from police, fire services and the licensed trade who will now discuss how the scheme can be further developed. This new Board will be supported by the well-established Executive Committee of local coordinators who already manage the schemes at local level.

Mandy added: "Members have made a dedicated effort to push the boundaries and raise the standard of creating a safer night time economy.

"We've seen some excellent services put in place like serving hot food before leaving for the journey home, patrons making sure people are safe in taxis, cleaning the streets around the clubs and importantly looking after single females.

"Going forward we want to see increasingly more Scottish venues become involved in the scheme and we hope that with more choices throughout Scotland it will be automatic for the public to research the website for members in their chosen area.

"In the year ahead, Scotland will hear a lot more about Best Bar None Scotland and the benefits of what it can deliver for those seeking a good evening out."

In March Best Bar None Scotland held its 2^nd National Awards which recognised a number of core success indicators by the 260 members who have worked to create a vibrant, safe and responsible leisure industry across Scotland.

The scheme saw a record number of entries for the main categories which included:-

Foremost Public health Initiative sponsored by Diageo; Best use of Innovation, Sponsored by Secured by Design; Best Bar, Sponsored by Molson Coors; Best Nightclub, sponsored by SGL; Best Specialist Entertainment Premises, sponsored by Strathclyde Fire & Rescue; Best Pub, sponsored by HEINEKEN.

More information about the Best Bar None Scotland scheme can be found at www.bbnscotland.co.uk or the Scottish Business Crime Centre website www.sbcc.org.uk .

The Best Bar None Scotland scheme began with support from DIAGEO who last night announced that Molson Coors and Heineken will also now be core sponsors during the next year. The scheme which has a number of different awards, is open to nightclubs, bars and restaurants across Scotland and will play an increasing role in changing Scotland's relationship with alcohol as Mark Baird, Public Affairs Director for DIAGEO in Scotland explains "we all want a safer Scotland, we all want to see communities where families are welcome and the experience of going out is more of an occasion. The level of entries this year was particularly high and we are seeing outstanding customer service as well as innovative ways to improve the environment around pubs and clubs as well as inside. This has been a phenomenally successful set of awards and all three companies, DIAGEO, Molson Coors and Heineken are all delighted to be supporting this".

The scheme which is administered across Scotland by the Scottish Business Crime Centre, saw a record number of entries for the main categories which included

• Public health - DIAGEO
• Innovation - Secured by Design
• Best Bar - Molson Coors
• Best Nightclub - SGL
• Best Specialist Entertainment Premises - Strathclyde Fire & Rescue
• Best Pub - Heineken

As Mandy Haeburn-Little, Director of SBCC explains, the strength of the scheme is the partnership which is at the heart of it. " Every one of the entries here has made  a dedicated effort to push the boundaries and raise the standard of creating a safer night time economy. Each one, regardless of size, has worked hard with Police, Fire Services, local authorities and BID areas to deliver some really visionary examples including this year -  hot food being served to people leaving on the journey home; pastors making sure people are safely in responsible taxis; cleaning the streets around the clubs and particularly looking after single females. They have also produced some excellent examples of  creating family friendly eating experiences.

In the year ahead, Scotland will hear a lot more about Best Bar None and the benefits of what it can deliver and we are genuinely delighted with the response that we have had this year."

Best Bar None Scotland 2^nd National Awards - Overall Winners 2012

Premises Area Scheme Name

Best Bar None Scotland 2^nd National Awards - Special Awards 2012

Premises Area Scheme Name

For a full list of finalists please click here.

Chairman of Aberdeenshire's Community Safety Executive William Munro said: "Aberdeenshire has been involved with Best Bar None for a number of years now.

"It is wonderful that so many licensed premises across the region are continuing to demonstrate their dedication in running establishments in such a professional manner.

"The Community Safety Executive is committed to ensuring Aberdeenshire is a safe place for all who come to visit, and Best Bar None is a very effective resource available to us."

Aberdeenshire has been involved in the scheme since 2007 through the Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership and the Scottish Business Crime Centre.

Anyone who would like to apply for the 2013 Best Bar None awards should contact Kate Rigby, strategic development officer (community safety), on 013467 628439, or at kate.rigby@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

A total of 20 licensed venues from across Leith will receive their awards from the Chair of the City of Edinburgh Licensing Board, Councillor Marjorie Thomas.

Councillor Thomas said: "The Best Bar None scheme has proved to be very popular, and we are delighted with the commitment shown by those participating.

"It allows licensed premises to provide the best service possible and

demonstrates the pride taken whilst ensuring the safety and security ofcustomers. Both locals and the wider community will be able to benefit from the scheme and experience everything Leith has to offer."

The national Best Bar None Awards scheme encourages licensed venues to improve standards of operation to a commonly agreed national benchmark.

It is the only recognised award scheme which encourages and rewards higher standards of operation in the licensed trade.

Part of the scheme involves the licensed trade working in partnership with Lothian and Borders Police, Lothian Fire and Rescue Service and City of Edinburgh Council to make their premises safer, and to reduce alcohol related crime and irresponsible drinking.

Chief Superintendent Gill Imery, A Division (City of Edinburgh) Commander for Lothian and Borders Police said: "The Best Bar None scheme is one element of our strategy to reduce crime and fear of crime in and around licensed premises through the promotion of best practice.

"It encourages cooperation between the police and the licensed trade and gives direct access to police and fire service advice on community and fire safety, crime reduction, and business continuity issues.

"I am delighted to see this nationally recognised scheme come to Edinburgh, and am confident that it will help both licensees and the police to ensure people continue to enjoy their nights out in a safe and responsible environment.

"The Best Bar None accreditation gives customers the reassurance that premises are well managed, and contributes to making Edinburgh such an attractive and safe place to visit and socialise."

Three participating venues will be chosen from the winners to represent Edinburgh at the Scottish 'Best of the Best' awards which will take place in March 2012.