Pub and club owners and licensees in central Scotland have gained awards in the Best Bar None safety and standards scheme. As elsewhere, the aim of the scheme is to improve customer satisfaction and facilities, reduce anti-social behaviour and promote the responsible management and operation of licensed premises.
At a ceremony in January, 12 awards were presented to local licensed premises including The Imperial Bar in Airdrie which was named as the overall winner. Gold and silver awards were presented to premises which achieved standards set out by the Best Bar None scheme.
The initiative, launched in 2013, is supported by Motherwell-based North Lanarkshire Council, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government. The winners from Airdrie and Coatbridge will now be nominated for the Best Bar None national finals, in Glasgow during March.
Council Leader, Councillor Jim Logue said: “The awards play a vital part in recognising the efforts of the licensed trade to raise standards of both premises and behaviour. When it was first launched, there was an immediate impact on incidences of anti-social behaviour and thanks to the joint efforts of the Community Safety Partnership and the licensees this has been maintained.”
The awards were presented by North Lanarkshire’s Depute Provost Councillor Jean Jones and Jim Robertson, Procurator Fiscal and local after dinner speaker. Award winners:
The overall winner (Best Bar None) was the Imperial Bar, Airdrie
Best Newcomer – The Fountain Bar, Coatbridge
Most Improved premises – 30s / Sugar, Coatbridge
Heart of the Community – Eagle Inn, Coatbridge
Best use of innovation – Cul de Sac, Coatbridge
Public Health Champion – West End Bar, Airdrie
Best Night Club – Hush, Coatbridge
Best Pub – Heritage, Coatbridge
Best Bar – Innishmohr, Coatbridge
Best Independent Bar – Owens, Coatbridge
Best Independent Pub – Imperial Bar, Airdrie
Best Hotel Bar – The Georgian, Coatbridge.
