June 2009 saw the Somerset wide launch of the Best Bar None Awards, for the best pubs and bars across the region. The Scheme in Somerset covers the five council areas of Mendip, Sedgemoor, West Somerset, Taunton Deane and South Somerset, an area in total of 1333 square miles with a population 855,000 and 3000 licensed premises.
The scheme is free for participants and offers them the chance to win a large cash prize for the winners in each category and an opportunity to have an inspection carried out in their venue by assessors to identify best practice and get advice on a range of issues to help improve their standards of operation to an agreed national benchmark. Venues also benefit from advice on Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Business Continuity issues for management and improved communication with the police and licensing authorities so there is a greater understanding of local issues on all sides.
Licensees who sign up for Best Bar None detail how they deal with everything from security and disorder to litter and community involvement. They are then visited by an assessor and if they meet the required standards they are given the Best Bar None accreditation as a quality mark. Each pub is also scored on its performance with the highest being short listed for the awards.
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