Winchester pubs, bars and restaurants raise a glass at the Best Bar None Awards 2019, to celebrate a safer night-time economy in the city.
Pubs, bars and restaurants in the city have celebrated the fifth Best Bar None Awards which took place on Wednesday 4 September 2019 at Guildhall Winchester. 17 venues took part in the Winchester Best Bar None assessment scheme with 14 achieving accreditation status. Each venue that entered the scheme was required to meet the National Accreditation’s criteria.
The national accreditation scheme runs in cities and towns around the country and is an opportunity for local pubs, bars and restaurants to be recognised for keeping standards high and creating a safer environment for revellers in the city. A judging panel comprising of representatives from Police Licensing, Winchester City Council Licensing, Winchester BID, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Winchester Street Pastors discussed and agreed on the level of award following the assessments.
With 14 local venues achieving accreditation status, there was one bronze award accredited to Alfie’s, 11 silver awards accredited to The Mucky Duck, The Westgate, Slug and Lettuce, Pitcher & Piano, O’Neill’s, The Old Gaolhouse, The Old Vine, Crown & Anchor, Cabinet Rooms, The Winchester Stable and The Eclipse Inn. Two gold accredited awards went to Guildhall Winchester and the Royal Oak.
With the introduction of two new categories this year, Best Newcomer was awarded to Crown & Anchor and Best Independent was awarded to Cabinet Rooms. Royal Oak was announced as the overall winner and will now go forward to the National Best Bar None Awards held at the Houses of Parliament in early 2020.
The scheme is co-ordinated by Jane Bastock, Business Crime Reduction Manager at Winchester BID, who said:
“This is the fifth year we have taken part in this localised scheme that forms part of the national project aimed at promoting safety and high standards for pubs, bars and restaurants.
It is a great achievement for all the venues who have worked exceptionally hard, above and beyond the required standards, ensuring a better safer social environment for the city of Winchester. The Winchester Best Bar None scheme sought not just to accredit venues, but to also recognise those venues that not only achieved all the “essential” criteria required, but were also successful against the “desirable and bonus” criteria. It is an excellent endorsement not only for the individual venues directly, but collectively as Winchester’s night-time economy, helping to establish Winchester as safe and responsible evening destination.
This scheme also encourages local businesses to share best practice, build good working relationships with the police and local authorities. The competitive nature of the scheme keeps businesses continually on the lookout for innovative ideas to improve and creates healthy competition between the venues.”
The event was hosted by Winchester BID, with the awards presented by Police Chief Inspector Mark Lynch, Divisional Commander for Winchester.
For photographs from the evening, please visit our Facebook page.
