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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

 

 

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