Best Bar None – Carlisle & Eden
Raising the Bar
(Date of issue: Friday, 20 January 2012)
Which will be the Best Pub, Bar or Club Bar None in Carlisle and
Penrith?
The 2012 Best Bar None Scheme was launched this week and several
venues have already taken the plunge and have signed up, the first
Carlisle venues being Outrageous and the Crown Inn, Stanwix who
were last year’s joint winners. Applications must be received by
Monday, 6 February.
The Best Bar None awards focus on safety and customer care with
the ultimate aim of finding the best pub, club or bar in Carlisle
and Penrith.
The scheme is operated under the Carlisle and Eden Crime and
Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) and Carlisle and Eden
District Council Licensing Officers, all working in partnership
with the Licensed Trade. The awards seek to establish a standard of
excellence within the pubs, clubs and bars in both areas.
The initiative aims to reward licensees, who provide good
management, a safe and enjoyable environment for customers,
discourage binge-drinking and prevent alcohol-related crime. It
will encourage licensees to act responsibly and take pride in their
premises and surroundings and, in doing so, put something back into
the city and town centres and their local community. Knock-on
effects include the prestige of being part of the awards scheme,
increasing business within an area and generating wealth for the
local economy arising from a quality offer and as a result of
operating safer premises.
The aims of the scheme are:
- To reduce the incidents of crime and disorder associated with
the consumption of alcohol
- To promote Carlisle and Penrith as a safe and professional
environment in which to live, work, visit and socialise
- To identify and reward responsible licensed premises
- To share good practice with other in order to raise
standards
The Best Bar None Awards are now an annual event this being the
fifth year of the scheme.
Carlisle City Cllr John Mallinson, Portfolio holder for
Governance and Resources, said: “We are delighted to be working
with late night entertainment trade in Carlisle and Penrith to
raise standards, promote good practice and highlight the good work
of responsible licensees.”
Cllr David Morton, Chair of the Carlisle City Council’s
Licensing Committee said:
“Best Bar None, along with other initiatives, has a significant
impact on drink related crime in the area. The licensing trade will
have an opportunity to demonstrate that it sets the highest
standards by applying best practice in the industry. It is an
excellent scheme, because it enables professionals in the industry
to be recognised for their good work. By raising standards,
licensees are benefiting their city, which has to be good news for
everyone, whether they are visitors, residents or people working in
Carlisle.”
Chief Inspector Mark Pannone, Cumbria Constabulary, said:
‘’The Carlisle & Eden CDRP is committed to reducing crime
and disorder in both Districts. We are excited by the opportunity
to support this innovative project. Best Bar None will be an
excellent opportunity to work with licensed premises, building on
the great work that the Multi Agency Problem Solving Unit and
partners are doing to ensure that North Cumbria is a safer place in
which to live, work and visit.’’
All pubs, clubs and bars in Carlisle and Penrith will receive an
application form, which can be returned to their local authority's
Best Bar None Team. An appointment can then be made for their
premises to be visited by the scheme's assessors. If the visit is
successful, they will be entered into one of the following award
categories: Best Pub; Best Club; Best Bar and Best Rural.
A distinguished panel of judges made up of senior
representatives from the CDRP, National Licensing Trade, Security
Industry Authority, Cumbria PCT and Cumbria Police will determine
the winners, who will be invited to an awards ceremony in May this
year.
Licensed premises that are accredited as part of the Best Bar
None Scheme will receive a plaque and certificate for public
display and may become eligible for significant reductions in
business insurance premiums through a scheme run by the BEDA.
For more information about the Best Bar None Scheme contact
Carlisle City Council’s Licensing Department on 01228 817523 or
email licensing@carlisle.gov.uk
Pictured below, from left to righ are: Sgt Richard Higgin, Glen
Anderson, Outrageous; Fred Watson, Licensing Officer; Danny and
Gemma Atkinson, Crown Inn Stanwix, Jim Messenger, Licensing
Manager
