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.

Best Bar None is a nationally recognised accreditation and awards scheme that celebrates excellence in the hospitality industry. Backed by the Home Office and supported by leading industry bodies, the scheme promotes safe, responsible, and high-quality nights out across the UK.

Now in its third year in Leicester, Best Bar None is delivered by BID Leicester, in partnership with Leicestershire Police, Leicester City Council Licensing, and Leicester City Watch. The initiative highlights venues that go above and beyond to provide a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment for everyone visiting the city centre.

The scheme aims to raise standards across Leicester’s pubs, bars, restaurants and late-night venues, recognising those that show outstanding commitment to customer care, staff training, and responsible management. It also strengthens collaboration between venues, local authorities and the police to ensure Leicester remains one of the safest and most vibrant city centres in the UK.

First launched in Manchester in 2003, Best Bar None has grown into a benchmark of quality for the licensed trade, with over 40 active schemes operating across England, Scotland and Wales. Leicester’s programme has quickly established itself as one of the most successful, with dozens of local venues achieving accreditation each year.

The annual Best Bar None Awards bring the scheme to life, celebrating the people and places that make Leicester’s nightlife exceptional.

Best Bar None Awards Winners 2026

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

People’s Choice Award

Best Leisure Venue

Standout Growth

Information for venues 

What are the benefits for licensees?

Benefits during the assessment process:

• A chance to be a part of one of the largest Best Bar None schemes in the country
• 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
• A chance to promote your venue and raise business profile as a safe place to enjoy a night out
• 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 in November 2026. Complete your assessment by 26th July to be in with a chance to win a £100 Leicester Gift Card for your team!

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

Click below to download the essential criteria needed to reach the 2026 Best Bar None accreditation standard. Most will be familiar from previous years assessments, however new criteria are listed under the Martyn’s Law / Suspicious Items / vulnerability management section.

Downloads:

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