Bowing out at the top
Butterburn Bar wins.. as owners set to retire
Staff at the Butterburn Bar in Hamilton raised a glass after being named as the overall Best Bar None winner.
The popular venue was among 12 pubs in the town who achieved gold and silver accreditation from Best Bar None Scotland.
As well as the overall award The Butterburn also won the category for most improved, with ROC, The Woodside Bar, Bar West, The Auld Hoose, Hemingways and Carrigan’s also being announced as winners in six other categories.
Best Bar None co-ordinator for Hamilton, George Currie, of South Lanarkshire Council Trading Standards said: “I am delighted with the interest that has been shown by Hamilton venues, and Best Bar None is a great opportunity for premises and partner agencies in the area to work together in order to maintain safe and welcoming licensed venues.”
The Best Bar None scheme – which is sponsored by Diageo, Molson Coors, Heineken, Tennent’s and Maxxium and Chivas Brothers-pernod Ricard – is an integral part of the Safer Communities Initiatives across Scotland.
Accreditation to the scheme shows the venue and its staff have met a level of standard that assures members of the public they will be able to enjoy a safe and welcoming atmosphere and exceeds the venue’s responsibilities to the licensing objectives. Arlene Campbell, National Best Bar None Scotland co-ordinator, said: “The venues voluntarily participate and I’d like to commend all 12 of the Hamilton venues for their commitment to the scheme. It is great to see Best Bar None becoming established in this area in support of the local community and day and night time economy.” The awards for 2017 took place recently at The Clydesdale Hotel in Hamilton. And the winners were: Best Pub, The Auld Hoose; Best Bar, Carrigan’s; Best Nightclub, Roc/rumours; Best Newcomer, Bar West; Most Improved, The Butterburn; Best Use of Innovation in Social Responsibility, Hemmingways; Heart of the Community, The Woodside Bar; Overall Winner Best Bar None, The Butterburn. The landlords at the Butterburn, one of Hamilton’s oldest pubs, are now set to retire after 21 years behind the bar. Sam and Margo Maxwell, who run the popular bar on Gateside Street, will soon ding the bell for last orders.