Birmingham’s night-time businesses are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the city’s Best Bar None Awards 2015, which will be launched today. The city-wide scheme, now in its eighth year, is the biggest in the country and champions licensed premises that provide a safe and enjoyable night out.

Best Bar None is a national award scheme, supported by the Home Office, which assesses pubs, clubs and bars on criteria such as door and security policies, drugs issues, under-age drinking and what systems are in place to deal with alcohol-related crime.

More than 50 venues took part in last year’s scheme but with more new bars and restaurants opening across the city, organisers hope even more will enter for 2015.

The Birmingham Best Bar None 2015 awards will be launched at The Red Lion, in Vicarage Road, King’s Heath – which won three categories including overall winner last year – on Monday, 11 May 2015.

This year the Suburban Venue category has been widened to find the best local pub, bar or restaurants in neighbourhoods across the city – with awards for the best in north, south, east and west Birmingham.

The winners will be announced at the Birmingham Best Bar None awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre on Broad Street, on 2 December 2015.

Jacqui Kennedy, Director of Regulation and Enforcement for Birmingham City Council, said: “The Birmingham Best Bar None awards are the Oscars of our city’s licensing trade.  They encourage venues to strive for high standards across their business, which is reflected in the quality of entries we receive each year.

“Venues will be assessed on how they are managed to ensure that customers enjoy their night out in a safe environment. We will also look at the contribution premises make to their local community.”

Officers from Birmingham City Council’s licensing, trading standards and environmental health teams, and colleagues from West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Police will be involved in assessing entrant venues.

This year compliance awards will be given to any premises that scores 100 per cent on its inspection but does not win one of the category awards, listed below:

  • Casinos
  • Nightclubs
  • City Centre Venue
  • Suburban Venue North
  • Suburban Venue South
  • Suburban Venue East
  • Suburban Venue West
  • Independent Venues
  • Student Bars
  • Hotel Bars
  • Restaurant Bars
  • Birmingham Community Safety Partnership Award
  • People’s Vote
  • Overall Best Bar None Winner

Venues that want to be accredited in this year’s scheme can submit an expression of interest via the Birmingham Best Bar None website: http://www.birminghambestbarnone.co.uk/contact-us-2/expression-of-interest/

The closing date for applications is 31 July 2015.