Well-run venues rewarded for putting Safety Thirst

An award-winning licensee is urging other pubs to get involved in best practice schemes after picking up a prestigious prize.

Laura Walters, manager of Punch Taverns pub the Kings Arms in the City of London, was recently awarded a 'highly commended' at the area's Safety Thirst scheme.

The initiative is similar to Best Bar None in that it rewards responsibly run venues and promotes partnerships with agencies such as police and local authorities.

Laura, whose pub was one of only four venues to win the top prize this year, said taking part in such initiatives can be good for trade.

"I have been involved since this started six years ago and it does help business. It ensures the team are more aware of what we are trying to do in providing a safe environment for our customers.

"It is simple things like ordering taxis for people and making sure they feel safe. If they do they are more likely to return."

And speaking at the Safety First ceremony at London's Guildhall last week the recently appointed Commissioner of the City of London Police Adrian Leppard had praise for the 732 venues on his new patch.

He said: "I have been hugely impressed by the management of the licensed premises since I have been here. There are some excellent dining venues and some fantastic historic pubs."

He added that initiatives such as Safety Thirst had helped cut crime and pointed to figures that revealed a 15 per cent reduction in overall crime in the last 12 months.

"This partnership approach has helped reduce crime and disorder and provided a safe environment for people to socialise in," he said.

The other highly commended venues were the Hoop & Grapes, Hennessy's, and the Windsor in Fenchurch Street.