Plymouth and Torbay will go head-to-head in 2020 in a national contest to find the town or city with the safest night out.
Their Best Bar None schemes have been shortlisted for the Most Innovative in the prestigious Best Bar None Awards, with winners announced at the House of Lords on February 4.
Judging takes place in January, with Plymouth shortlisted in the innovation category for the second successive year.
Plymouth’s scheme focused on issues surrounding reports of drink spiking in the city, with drug testing kits trialled in the city’s Best Bar None accredited venues as part of a partnership with police.
The trial, between March and June, saw venues supplied with kits specifically designed to test drinks for traces of drugs commonly used to spike victims.
A total of 300 kits were handed out during the three-month period and police were on hand to apprehend suspects after using CCTV to identify them.
Police said only two drink spiking incidents were reported to them and both were found not to have involved drugs, once the liquids were tested.
Plymouth and Torbay face competition for the £500 prize from Barnsley and Bolton as to which scheme has developed the most creative or innovative concept in the past year.
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But Plymouth will not be able to defend its title of Overall Scheme in 2020 – after being named winner two years running.
BBN Plymouth’s chair and coordinator Cat Macdonald will be joining the judging panel for Best Overall Scheme, which means Plymouth will not be permitted to enter that award.
But Torbay has made onto the shortlist for the top honour.
There have been a record nine regional finalists announced in three categories: Best Overall Scheme, Most Innovative Scheme and Best New Scheme, seeing a year on year increase in the number of successful entries.
Mrs MacDonald said: “We worked closely with our local police over the last year to develop a clear and comprehensive process that could be adopted by everyone involved in the evening and night-time economy, from Plymouth’s Street Pastors and door staff, to those operating the town’s SafeBus, and that ensured everyone was aware and involved in what we were trying to achieve.
“We were also able to use the data we collected to confidently inform customers enjoying any of our Best Bar None accredited bars, that there had not been a rise in incidents of drink spiking.
Best Bar None Awards 2020 - the nominees
The complete list of finalists in the 2020 Best Bar None Awards is:
Best Overall Scheme - presented to the scheme with the biggest impact on its area.
Sheffield
Torbay
Tower Hamlets
Most Innovative Scheme – awarded to the most creative concept or initiative introduced to make a difference in the local area.
Barnsley
Bolton
Plymouth
Torbay
Best New Scheme– open to any scheme running for less than 18-months
Cumbria
Worcester
Havering
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“This is another example of one of our initiatives resulting in reassuring customers that their safety is of paramount importance to us and to the police, and that members of our scheme are going above and beyond to ensure their security.”
Lord Smith of Hindhead, chair of BBN, said: “It is always fantastic to see such a good turnout for our annual awards.
“I want to highlight the importance of commending those schemes that are doing such a wonderful job.
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“The impact that Best Bar None has in towns and cities today - making them safer and more desirable places to go - is relevant and valuable to the entire hospitality Industry and it is everyone on the ground who we have to thank for that.
“It is particularly encouraging to see Plymouth in the finals this year. It is a strong scheme that deserves recognition and it just goes to show that the team there are continuing to maximise their impact on the local community and maintaining strong and proactive relationships with their local authorities, that we see them here today.”
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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BBN is a Home Office-backed scheme that sees the alcohol industry working collaboratively with local authorities and the police to promote responsible drinking and higher professional licensing standards in bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants.
BBN has been running for more than 16 years and there are currently active schemes encompassing hundreds of licensed premises over 70 towns and cities in England and Wales, as well as the new Central Scheme, which provides BBN accreditation for operators which are not currently located where a scheme is in place.
Premises are audited by trained assessors for operational standards, policies and procedures, as well as the education and training of staff.