The venue beat five other operators to the award which was presented last night at Best Bar None’s Parliamentary Reception at the House of Lords.
“We are just going to keep making it better and improving the place,” said Chaplin’s owner Harry Secombe. “It is a still a work in progress.
“We are setting up a forum for the community because Boscombe is the most deprived place in the south west of England and I have been trying to save our local community centre too, so there a range of things we have been doing.
“Getting people together is the way forward - it’s not just a victory for us, it’s a victory for Boscombe.”
Seccombe, along with the venue’s DPS Nick Humphrey, dedicated the award to former owner Nora Grennell. “We couldn’t have won this award without her,” they said. “Nola has done a fantastic job over the last four years during the time we have been involved with the Bournemouth BBN scheme.”
Best Bar None chairman Philip Kolvin said: “Chaplins is operating in one of the most deprived communities in the country and they have found a little haven where local people can come and enjoy something which is unique in its location.
“They have promoted local art, they have promoted local music, they are using locally-sourced food, so they are creating a place which the community can feel proud of, and safe in, and we just thought it was exceptional as a locally-run, locally-created bar for a local community.”
The other finalists were:
- Mark Simmonite, Henry’s, Sheffield
- Lee Price, Royal Pier, Aberystwyth
- Andrew Nicholson, Varsity, Durham
- Andrew Kearney, K2/The Venue, Consett
- John Walsh, Coco Ice, Doncaster