The Southampton Best Bar None awards scheme is organised jointly by Hampshire Constabulary and Southampton City Council, supported by Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands and the Southern Daily Echo.

Southampton's first Best Bar None awards in 2006 had 53 premises accredited, 2007 saw 93 premises accredited and in 2008 100 premises were accredited.
The 2006 scheme, which was limited to premises in the City Centre and Bevois Valley, had three categories:

• Best pub

• Best bar

• Best club

In 2007 the scheme was extended throughout the city and two new categories were added:

• Best local pub

• Daily Echo readers’ award

The 2008 scheme had the following categories:

• Best bar

• Best pub

• Best community pub

• Best club

Details of the winning premises and those accredited are available in the related documents links to the right.

On each occasion that the Best Bar Awards scheme is run, it is announced at a formal launch and in the local media. In addition, management of appropriate licensed premises are contacted and encouraged to take part.

Licensed premises are subject to a wide-ranging assessment on the four licensing objectives:

• The prevention of crime and disorder

• Public safety

• The prevention of public nuisance

• The protection of children from harm

In addition, premises are also assessed on a number of ancillary issues including their staff training on a range of practical issues, their knowledge of their licence and responsibilities under it and their involvement in community matters.

Applications from licensed premises are assessed by officers from Hampshire Constabulary's licensing unit and Southampton City Council's licensing team.

The applications and assessments are then judged by an independent panel which is includes representatives from Hampshire Constabulary, the City Council, the British Institute of Innkeeping, Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, Southampton University Students' Union, Solent University Students' Union and the Southern Daily Echo. The judging panel determine the winners in each category and the overall Best Bar None award.

Please contact either the Police licensing unit or the City Council licensing team for more information on the awards and other licensing issues.

Contact details for Southampton Best Bar None Awards

Hampshire Constabulary

Southampton Licensing Unit,
Hampshire Constabulary,
12-18 Hulse Road,
Southampton.
SO15 2JX

Email: southampton.licensing@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
Direct: 023 8067 4374
Switchboard: 0845 045 4545
Fax No: 023 8067 4057

Southampton City Council

Postal address:
Licensing Team
Southampton City Council
PO Box 1344
Southampton
SO15 1WQ

Personal callers:
Licensing Team
Southbrook Rise
4-8 Millbrook Road East
Southampton
SO15 1YG

Email: licensing@southampton.gov.uk
Telephone: 023 8083 2715
Fax: 023 8083 4061