Some of Swansea City Centre’s busiest bars, clubs and night time businesses have been recognised for their dedication to making the City Centre a safe place for evening visitors at a Best Bar None awards ceremony.

The Home Office-backed scheme was introduced in Swansea City Centre last year by Swansea BID (Business Improvement District) and it continues to recognise night time businesses that are carrying out meaningful and ongoing training for staff, to ensure they are well-equipped to offer safe nights out for their customers and clients. This year, 18 venues met the stringent Best Bar None assessment criteria.

Seven venues were recognised in a number of categories. Jack Murphys was recognised as Most Improved, Fiction’s door team was awarded for its Entry Supervision and Safety, Peppermint was named Best Creative Group, and The Perch was acknowledged as Best Independent. Popworld won the Stonegate Group Award and Walkabout was given the Best Bar None BID Award. Scott Beavan, from Silurian Security, was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to the Night Time Economy.

The event went ahead at The Three Lamps, hosted by Swansea BID and with representatives from South Wales Police and Best Bar None in attendance.

Brendan Bottomley, co-ordinator of Best Bar None in Swansea and Swansea BID’s Evening and Night Time Economy Officer, said:

“Swansea is the first city in Wales to hold the Best Bar None accreditation and its associated awards event, and more than 20 traders in the City Centre signed up to the scheme. I am pleased to be able to reward businesses for their efforts to make Swansea City Centre a safer location for night-time outings and for promoting responsible drinking.

“It is notable that the Best Bar None scheme has been embraced by our night time economy with real enthusiasm and commitment, since it is in all our interests to offer a safe, welcoming and an enjoyable night time experience in the City Centre.  Best Bar None has already helped to feed into a reduction in alcohol related incidents in the City Centre and the relationship between licenced premises, the police and local authorities continues to grow stronger.”

Best Bar None involves a year of training and rigorous assessment activities, according to strict criteria, driven by the Best Bar None Steering Group. The group includes representatives of Swansea BID Businesses, licensees, representatives of South Wales Police and Swansea Council.

75 towns and cities across the UK are part of the Best Bar None Scheme, with licensees implementing sensible safety and security policies and ensuring their staff are well-trained in its policies – with the universal aim of promoting a responsible attitude to alcohol.