Bournemouth's top nightspots celebrated at Best Bar None Awards (From Thisisdorset)

Bournemouth's top nightspots celebrated at Best Bar None Awards

2:00pm Saturday 15th September 2012 in Latest By Andy Martin

THE best of Bournemouth’s night time economy was celebrated for the fifth year in a row at the annual Best Bar None Awards.

Nearly 200 guests attended the event at the O2 Academy .

The awards, part of the national accreditation scheme for licensed premises, benchmark the performance of clubs and bars against set criteria that focus on the four principles of the Licensing Act 2003: Reduction of crime and disorder- Public safety- Reduction of public nuisance- Protection of children from harm

From the five finalists the judges selected Bar So and also 1812; who have now become the only venue to win the overall winners award twice; they previously won the opening event in 2008.

The other category winners were Lava Ignite, Brasshouse, The Hogshead and Spearmint Rhino, all of whom scored highly across all of the assessment criteria.

Also receiving accolades as Category runners-up were, Bliss, V Club, O2 Academy Bournemouth, Sir Percy Florence Shelley and Yates.

The Daily Echo Editor’s Award was presented to the Winchester Pub on Poole Hill who also displayed artwork from the Freeway Poets which can be viewed in the pub.

The event was introduced by Jon Shipp, Bournemouth’s NTE Co-ordinator together with the Principal Licensing Officer for Bournemouth, Steve Wright.

The guest speaker for this year’s event was Mr Jeremy Pope OBE, the High Sheriff of Dorset. He said: “These awards are fantastic. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Member for the Night Time Economy, said: “The night was a great success. We recognise that the trade take a thorough approach to ensuring standards are maintained across the night time economy.”

Sponsors of the awards included solicitors Horsey Lightly Fynn, Diageo and MRS.

Entertainment was provided by Zambezi Express and young local musical talent Steven Lee, Zaq Dixon aged 12 and the all female Off-Beat Groove Choir.

Category winners at the 2012 event

Accredited Venues at the Pass Level:

29/30 Triangle Club
Le Chic
The Crown
The Mary Shelley

With Merit:

Buffalo Bar
Inferno
Moon in the Square
Parkstone & Heatherland
Sound Circus
The Christopher Creeke
 

With Distinction:

Aruba
Bar So / 1812
Bliss
Brasshouse
Chaplin's Wine Bar
Chilli White
For Your Eyes-
Only
Lava Ignite
O2 Academy Bournemouth
Old Fire Station
Sir Percy Florence Shelley
Spearmint Rhino
The Grove Tavern
The Hogshead
The Winchester
V Club
Walkabout
Yates’s

Venues receiving the Operation Protect Award
(Dorset Police)

Chilli White
Lava Ignite
O2 Academy Bournemouth
V Club