What is Best Bar None?

Best Bar None is a national accreditation scheme that recognises excellence in the hospitality industry, promoting safer and more welcoming nights out.

Launched in Leicester by BID Leicester in partnership with Leicestershire Police, Leicester City Council Licensing, and Leicester City Watch, the scheme began in 2023 and returned in 2024 for its second successful year.

The initiative sets out to raise standards across pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants that serve alcohol in Leicester. Its core aim is to create a more enjoyable and safer experience for customers, while encouraging stronger collaboration between venues, authorities and the wider community. It’s also a chance to recognise and celebrate outstanding operators in the city.

Originally founded in Manchester in 2003, Best Bar None has expanded across the UK and beyond, with more than 40 active schemes currently operating in England alone.

Supported by the Home Office and leading industry trade bodies, Best Bar None rewards venues that demonstrate they are safe, responsible, and professionally run — with robust policies, training, and procedures in place.

Best Bar None Awards Winners 2024

As well as gaining accreditation the five venues below won the following awards, for their outstanding performance in assessment and mystery shopping reports.

Best Leisure Venue

The accredited venues listed below have demonstrated their commitment to excellence and responsible management, having undergone a thorough assessment process conducted by trained assessors:

1. 1573 Bar and Grill
2. 2Funky Complex
3. Audrey
4. Bistro Live
5. Bodega
6. Caddyshackers
7. Cosy Club
8. Curve
9. East Street Lanes
10. Firebug
11. Genting Casino
12. Grosvenor Casino
13. Herb
14. The High Cross
15. Hogarths
16. Holiday Inn
17. Kayal
18. Knight and Garter
19. Lane7 Leicester
20. Merchant Of Venice (Granby Street)
21. Merchant Of Venice (Loseby Lane)
22. Middletons
23. Mosh
24. O’Neill’s
25. Phoenix
26. Platinum Lace
27. Prana
28. Queen of Bradgate
29. Revolution
30. Riley’s Leicester
31. Sixes Social Cricket
32. Sonrisa
33. Roxy Ballroom
34. The Basement
35. The Big Difference
36. The City Rooms
37. The Corn Exchange
38. The Exchange Bar
39. The Gadabout
40. The Globe
41. The Gresham
42. The Marquis of Wellington
43. The Metal Monocle
44. The Real Ale Classroom
45. The Rutland and Derby
46. The Y Theatre
47. Tonne
48. Turtle Bay
49. Veeno
50. Watsons Cocktail Bar

Information for venues 

What are the benefits for licensees?

Benefits during the assessment process:

• A development opportunity for staff to learn and develop their skills and knowledge
• Builds confidence operationally – know that you are working to nationally recognised standards of excellence
• Builds a positive relationship between businesses, the local authority, and the police, to ensure the city is a safe place to enjoy social time
• Sets a benchmark for good practice and promotes excellence
• Generate ideas to enhance work you already do, using free tools and resources to implement them

Benefits after accreditation:

• An opportunity to gain a nationally recognised, independent award, showing that your venue is a safe and welcoming place to visit
• A chance to promote your venue and raise business profile as a safe place to enjoy a night out
• Supports efforts to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour city-wide
• A chance to gain additional promotion by featuring in a high-profile marketing campaign. Promotional materials will be distributed throughout the city, including to both Universities

In a study of the perceived impacts of the scheme:

Venues will be supported through the process, which involves an independent assessor visit and culminates with an awards evening at the City Rooms in November 2025.

How does a venue get accreditation?

The scheme rewards responsible licensees who:

• Provide good management
• Take pride in creating a safe and enjoyable environment for customers
• Discourage binge drinking
• Prevent alcohol-related crime

Assessment process overview

1. Initial meeting

• Each venue will be contacted to arrange a convenient appointment to visit the premises or chat to the manager/ Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) on the phone or via a webchat.
• This initial meeting will give clear instructions about completing the assessment and will be an opportunity for the venue to ask any questions.
• During this initial meeting you will be given a BBN assessment pack, which will include a full guide to completing the assessment as well as a list of FAQs to answer any questions you may have about the process. 

2. Full Assessment

• The assessment and full inspection meeting will be completed face-to-face and should take no more than two hours.
• Premises will be assessed by trained assessors and scored against the criteria.
• The assessment will be scored and subject to reaching all the essential criteria the venue will receive Best Bar None Accreditation and, depending on their scoring, may be short listed for a BBN award which will be presented at an the awards ceremony in November, details below.
• When returning to the venue to complete the full assessment the assessor will ask to see the completed paper version of the assessment that was left with the venue at the initial visit.
• Venues should have completed this to the best of their knowledge and gathered any supporting documentation and evidence.

3. Awards evening

• Venues will be invited to the Best Bar None awards event. Tickets will be available to buy later in the year.
• Premises that have achieved accreditation status will be presented with a Best Bar None recognition plaque.
• An award for the best premises in each category will also be given as part of the evening. Categories will be announced over the coming months and tickets will be on sale soon.

Documentation

Below is a list of documents that will be required as part of the full assessment process; these will vary depending on the size of your operation. It may be that some of these records are not applicable, however some are mandatory. Details of mandatory documentation will be provided in your BBN support pack.

If you don’t have all these documents/policies in place, please do not worry, we will discuss as part of the initial meeting and full assessment process and will be able to provide you with policy and procedure information and templates as required.

Documentation checklist:

• Premises License
• Incident log / reports
• Evidence of staff meeting /Security Briefings
• Door supervisor Register /Company details
• Search Policy
• Drugs Policy
• Drunkenness policy
• Duty of Care Policy -vulnerable people
• Accidents recording book
• Capacity Log
• Fire Risk Assessment & logbook for evacuation & checks alarm, lighting etc.
• Gas & Electrical Safety (5 years hard wiring) check records Dates
• Health and Safety Risk Assessment (Noise)
• Public / Employer Liability Insurance
• Age Verification Policy
• Staff training records

Downloads:

To support you throughout the process, there are template policies available to download below.