Best Bar None gets tough with venues
Best Bar None-accredited bars could have their status withdrawn if they don't adhere to best practice.
That's one plan from BBN chief Neil Robertson, who also proposed a higher level award for exceptionally well-run venues. But he is "not optimistic" about securing future Government funding for the pub and club accreditation scheme.
The initiative is "on track" to reach its target of 150 towns and cities next year, Robertson said. He spoke to the Morning Advertiser ahead of the national Best Bar None Conference this week.
He said: "We are doing a bit of thinking about how we can strengthen Best Bar None for the future. I will be kicking off that debate at the conference. It will be a priority."
He raised the idea of having a higher level award and wanted a "robust follow-up" to accreditation.
And he posed the question: "Once they've achieved the status, how do we make sure they maintain it?"
Robertson gave his "full support" to Durham Best Bar None's decision to strip the city's Loft club of its award for advertising an all-inclusive promotion.
Earlier this year, the Home Office extended funding by around £20,000 to let its work continue until next spring.
Discussions about future funding are "on-going" but Robertson said: "We are less optimistic about future Government support because of the other funding challenges we have.
"The parties do seem to be moving more towards legislation instead of best practice and voluntary programmes, which I think is a mistake. We will try and bring them back from that."
Robertson said just under 100 schemes currently exist and he'd be "more precise" about targeting areas to reach the 150 mark. Regions designated a priority by the Home Office would be targeted.
He said the attitude of police in areas where schemes exist is "very positive", although there's a "minority" that want to see tougher measures against venues.
BBN trials on-trade inclusion
A handful of areas are trialling the idea of including the off-trade in Best Bar None.
It's being attempted in "more mature schemes" like Lancaster and Doncaster, Robertson said. "There's stuff to build on there," he added.
"There's an almost universal feeling from the on-trade, local authorities and police that the off-trade needs to be part of this."
