Member Article

Sunderland city centre raising the bar

A national awards scheme aimed at promoting responsible management and a safe and welcoming environment in licensed premises comes to Sunderland City Centre. The Best Bar None awards are a UK-wide scheme which is already running in more than 60 towns and cities.

Sunderland City Centre Management - in partnership with the Police and City Council - is to bring the Best Bar None awards to Wearside for the first time.

The Best Bar None awards - which are backed by the Home Office - were launched in 2003 and have been adopted nationwide, including by both Durham and Newcastle. In Newcastle The Bacchus was crowned the best bar in 2008.

All licensed premises within the city centre boundaries will be eligible to enter and will be assessed by an independent panel which will include representatives from the police and fire brigade. The winners will be rewarded at a black tie dinner in March 2009. The City Centre Management is planning to launch the scheme at a dinner in September, which will set the scene for the award ceremony itself.

Sunderland City Centre Manager Louise Hardy said: “We really hope the licensing trade will get behind these awards as it’s a real opportunity for bars, clubs and pubs in the city centre to highlight their good practice.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .