Background
The Best Bar None Scotland scheme has now been running in
Scotland since 2005 and has grown in popularity with many Scottish
cities and towns operating the scheme as an example of good
practice.
The scheme is sponsored by the Scottish Government and Diageo
and is open to all pubs, bars and night-clubs in the area. It
focuses on public safety and customer care and offers each venue an
opportunity to demonstrate that it is focused on important issues
such as:
Prevention of Crime and Disorder
Securing Public Safety
Prevention of Public Nuisance
Protecting and Improving Public Health
Protection of children from harm
The Fife ‘Best Bar None’ Award Scheme is a partnership project
involving Fife Constabulary, Fife Fire & Rescue, Fife Drug
& Alcohol Action Team, Environmental Services, Scottish
Licensed Trade and BEDA Scotland. The scheme started in 2006 in
Fife and was developed to encourage a higher standard of management
of licensed premises and encouraging the sharing of best
practice.
The scheme is open to all Pubs, Bars, and Nightclubs in
Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Leven, Cupar, St Andrews,
Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Inverkeithing, Rosyth & Anstruther town
centres. There are three levels of award, Accredited, Silver and
Gold.
Benefits of the scheme
The scheme itself becomes stronger as more venues become
involved and brings many potential benefits to their business:
- It gives them a chance to show their staff and customers that
their venue promotes a SAFE AND SECURE environment
to socialise.
- It increases the chances in seeing a REDUCTION IN CRIME
AND THE FEAR OF CRIME in the venue by following best
practice guidelines
- It IMPROVES COMMUNICATION WITH THE POLICE AND LICENSING
BOARD so that there is a greater understanding of issues
on all sides
- It provides an opportunity to have an inspection carried out in
the venue by a evaluator to IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICE AND GET
ADVICE ON A RANGE OF ISSUES
- It gives a chance to demonstrate commitment to a
CLEANER, SAFER and BETTER TOWN CENTRE
- It gives licensees access to PROFESSIONAL ADVICE ON
COMMUNITY SAFETY, CRIME REDUCTION AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY
ISSUES for management and staff, and
- Most importantly, it gives the opportunity, through the
application process, to focus on the key elements of the new
Licensing Bill in PREPARATION FOR WHEN PREMISES WILL NEED
TO SUBMIT AN OPERATING PLAN demonstrating how they will
address PREVENTION OF CRIME AND DISORDER, PUBLIC SAFETY, PROMOTION
OF PUBLIC HEALTH, PREVENTION OF PUBLIC NUISANCE and PROTECTION OF
CHILDREN FROM HARM.
A fundamental point underpinning the whole assessment is to
remember that everything should be evidenced in some way. It
is crucial to the credibility of the process that no points should
be awarded without the necessary evidence. If in doubt the
point should not be given.
Success Stories
Since the introduction of Best Bar None in Fife a number of
premises have improved and from receiving an accreditation in their
1st year they have moved onto to Silver by showing an
increase in safety & responsibility. These premises
include The Abbey Bar, Kirkcaldy & West End Bar, Leslie.
Best Bar None has sponsored a couple of safety campaigns within
the winning premises including the issues of promotional t-shirts
for staff to wear during the festive drink-drive
campaign. The premises were also issued safety pint
& spirit glasses in order to remove normal glass and the use of
a weapon from the town centres. The glass also had a safe
drinking message.
Category Award Winners
In 2006 only premises in Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy & Dunfermline
town centres were eligible to apply and we issued 9 premises with
awards. In 2007 this increased slightly and we received
17 applications and awarded 12 premises with awards. In 2008
we extended the scheme and received 55 application forms that
resulted in 33 premises gaining accreditation. Last
year we issued 29 awards to the following premises:
Pub Category
Gold -
Pinkertons, Glenrothes
Gold
-
Betty Nicols, Kirkcaldy
Silver
-
The Abbey, Kirkcaldy
Silver
-
Central Bar, St Andrews
Silver
-
West End Bar, Leslie
Bronze
-
The Raisin, St
Andrews
Bronze
-
Whey Pat Tavern, St Andrews
Bronze
-
Cross Guns, Cowdenbeath
Bronze -
Wee Jimmies, Cowdenbeath
Bar Category
Gold
-
The 7 Kings, Dunfermline
Silver
-
East Port Bar, Dunfermline
Silver
-
The Golden Acorn, Glenrothes
Silver
-
Styx, Kirkcaldy
Silver
-
The Robert Nairn, Kirkcaldy
Silver
-
The Exchequer, Kirkcaldy
Silver
-
O'Connells, Kirkcaldy
Silver
-
Agenda, Leven
Bronze
-
The Rule, St Andrews
Bronze
-
Dunvegan Bar, Cowdenbeath
Bronze
-
Woodside Hotel, Cowdenbeath
Bronze
-
Victoria Café, St Andrews
Club
Category
Gold
-
Collective/Harlem, Dunfermline
Silver
-
Velocity Nightclub, Dunfermline
Silver
-
Styx, Glenrothes
Silver
-
Student Association, St Andrews
Silver
-
Blue Monday, Kirkcaldy
Silver
-
PJ Malloy’s, Dunfermline
Silver
-
Kitty’s & Club DV8, Kirkcaldy
Silver
-
Lorenzo's, Dunfermline
Most Improved Premise was awarded to Pinkertons, Glenrothes
Conclusion
Best Bar None is an excellent opportunity for us to meet with
licensees and find out about best practice in premises and also
offer advice to encourage less well-run premises up to a better
standard.
For further details of Best Bar None, Michelle Burnett can be
contacted on 0845 600 5702 or by e-mail at michelle.burnett@fife.pnn.police.uk