Sponsored by PPL, this award recognises the pub that has best established itself as a renowned live music venue
North: Arch
Hulme, Greater Manchester
Business partners Daniel Maddison and Scott Lanigan are celebrating the second year of a trading revolution at Arch in Hulme. Two years ago, the duo made a sizeable investment in a pub that had been closed down for two years and effectively "written off" by its owner. The Robinsons Brewery pub had fallen victim to a locality that struggled to compete with the nearby club and entertainment venues that were available in Manchester city centre just a mile down the road.
However, a dramatic resurgence in the area's fortunes has come about because of new student accommodation and other infrastructure developments. Today, Arch, far from being a redundant shell of a building, is home to one of the most popular music venues in Hulme.
So successful has been Arch's transformation that the bar has now been nominated for a top award by Manchester's influential CityLife magazine.
It's a stunning reflection on the way Arch has adapted to its new format, making it a favourite venue for students, music lovers and the neighbourhood's sizeable Caribbean population.
Daniel remarks: "The new developments have changed the face of the area and brought a new vibrancy to this part of Hulme. Apart from new student accommodation, residential flats have also sprung up and encouraged a sizeable population migration to the neighbourhood."
Despite the new customer base Arch's success is also due to its cutting edge interior design and impressive music policy. The new look makes Arch a natural venue for a wide range of music lovers.
Apart from the interior, Arch also boasts an outside beer garden with furniture sponsored by Carling.
The entertainment comes in the form of regular music nights ranging from jam to reggae, with different DJs hosting the sessions. A state-of-the-art sound system ensures that customers get only the best whether it's a DJ session or live music.
Both Daniel and Scott have worked in the nightclub business for many years and are now pooling their experience to give Hulme an exciting late night music bar, which is fast gaining a reputation throughout Manchester.
But it's not simply the night-time entertainment that attracts customers to Arch. The pub enjoys a good daytime trade where food is available at lunchtimes and early evenings with Sunday's Jamaican-style menu a big favourite.
"Although we are primarily a night-time music bar, we like to think we cater for types of customer. I would say our main age group ranges around the 25-to-40 mark, but we are completely adaptable," Daniel adds.
Central: Junktion 7, Canning Circus
Bar Seven Nottingham
Adrian Smith is a larger-than-life figure who has stamped his own inimitable personality on Nottingham's night-time music scene. In three amazing years, he has transformed a down-at-heel pub into a thriving bar and music centre, which has become the talk of the city.
The venue combines a unique two-in-one package. On most evening, Junktion 7 hosts live bands performing a wide spectrum of music in the upstairs section of the venue, while downstairs Bar Seven caters for disco enthusiasts. It means there is rarely a quiet night in either part of the outlet thanks to regular visits by local university students as well as Nottingham's vibrant 25 to 35 year-old age group.
The venture is the brainchild of Adrian, a former Nottingham DJ who realised something was missing from the city's music scene and decided to do something about it. He recalls:
"Music people were just not being catered for in certain areas, so we set out to provide a venue that would offer a complete range of different bands and music types.
"We started by opening the ground floor Bar Seven in April 2002 and moved upstairs four months later. It has taken a lot of investment, but now I like to think we are the best independent small music venue in the city."
Live bands regularly stage specialist glam rock, rock, indie or punk nights, but the choice does not stop there. The music offering is completely unfettered and stretches literally across all tastes and themes.
Adrian explains: "We occasionally bring in well-known names and have had names such as Belle & Sebastian, Andrew Weatherall & Bonehead from Oasis spinning discs.
We also like to get encourage new talent whether it's a local band just setting out or students trying their hand at a mixing competition."
The past 12 months has seen a major investment in PA equipment, lighting and music system improvements to help encourage the best possible atmosphere for both performers and customers.
Adrian constantly reviews entertainment in both venues to ensure he is getting the best return for the considerable amount of money he has been forced to spend to get the venture up and running.
"I like to keep a hands-on approach to the business whether it's on the music side or behind the bar.
"I even play the role of doorman when necessary and, after close on three years here, I still have not drawn a wage," he grins.
Home Counties: Riverside Tavern
Strood, Kent
When Peter Foreman took over the Riverside Tavern nearly four years ago, his business plan was mainly geared towards attracting the "straight" market. Since then, his plan has evolved into one that principally aims at the gay market, but nevertheless, still attracts a wide variety of customers including families.
Peter has managed the transformation of the run-down pub on the banks of the river Medway by creating a unique environment for all as well as ploughing in substantial amounts of money around £95,000 during the past year alone.
A refurbished kitchen allows food to be served all day to attract the family market particularly at weekends. On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, the Riverside has a late licence until 2am to host discos for revellers and the gay market. Again, no expense has been spared with £10,000 spent during the year on new sound systems and lighting equipment.
Peter has also created three distinct areas within the Riverside to suit different moods and energy levels. There is a "club room" area for dancing, a lounge area for relaxing and a traditional bar area for those who just want to drink and chat.
On music nights, one of four regular DJs takes over to raise the tempo between 10pm and closing time. Peter reports: "Because we provide a safe environment, we get customers from all over north London, Hastings, Eastbourne, Folkestone and Brighton." Numbers vary between 80 and 350 and the music played is chosen to suit the mood of the customers. Entrance is free before 9.30pm, thereafter a sliding scale of fees are charged with £5 being the maximum after 11pm.
When the Riverside was first granted its late licence in August 2003, Peter says there was initially some minor disturbances. Alcohol-fuelled punters kicked out at closing time from nearby pubs sought to gatecrash the Riverside and there were even some incidents of homophobic abuse and drugs dealers trying to ply their trade. However, a zero-tolerance approach by the Riverside's 20-strong crew and good support from the local police soon restored order.
As well as relying on word of mouth, Peter advertises in local newspapers and national gay magazines. There is also the pub's website, which gives details of imminent events. Apart from the DJ music nights, the freehouse also stages karaoke and quiz nights and Peter is toying with then idea of staging live music on a regular basis.
"We want to stage something different every night and cater for a broad market," is Peter's business philosophy. He is also hoping that the Riverside's turnover will top £1m next year and even harbours plans to open another venue.
West: Sailors Arms
Newquay, Cornwall
Newquay has gained the reputation of being the night-time entertainment capital of Cornwall, if not the entire West Country. It is ramm