Reading Today

Town pubs given Best Bar None accreditat­ion

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THREE more licensed premises have been awarded Best Barn None accreditat­ion.

The Roseate, The Botanist, and

The Oakford Social Club have all been given the accreditat­ion, which promotes high operations standards in the bar and nightclub industry.

They will join The Milk Bar, which was the first venue in Reading to have been given the accreditat­ion in 2022.

It follows a rigorous audit of venue policies on safety and procedure, availabili­ty of training documents, and working practises conducted by an external auditor.

The Roseate is the first hotel to receive the accreditat­ion in Berkshire.

Will Steel, who works at Oakford Social Club, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of the scheme, and we’re very happy to be noticed.

“We’ve been working especially hard over the last three years, and everyone on the team is very proud.”

Best Bar None is a scheme which awards accreditat­ion to venues with high standards of venue management, staff care and training, customer safety, and customer and community service.

Venues opt into the scheme and volunteer to be audited, and those with high enough standards are presented with an award to mark them out as safe, welcoming businesses.

It also looks to reduce crime and disorder, and encourages cooperatio­n between venues.

Standards are set out by by the national Best Bar None Board, but Reading’s scheme is organised by Reading Pubwatch.

Bill Donne, honorary secretary to Reading Pubwatch, said: “The Best Bar None scheme accreditat­ion recognises well-run restaurant­s, pubs and clubs operating in Reading.

“We are pleased that three more venues were successful in passing a robust audit and achieving BBN status.

“This is testimony to the hard work and commitment to best practice by owners, management and their teams to achieve this prestigiou­s BBN standard.”

He also said that the scheme is sponsored by the Business Improvemen­t District (BID) for town centre venues, and by Reading Borough Council for those licensed premises located outside of the town centre.

Alexa Volker, Reading’s BID manager said “As sponsors of the town centre BBN scheme we are

delighted that three more venues in Reading have achieved BBN accreditat­ion status.”

Best Bar None was announced by Reading Pubwatch back in March, and those accredited will be honoured at a black tie awards ceremony at The Hilton in September.

 ?? Of Reading Pubwatch Picture: Courtesy ?? ACCREDITED: Simon Raza and Gabriel Lupo from The Roseate, with Best Bar None auditor Mike Worthingto­n.
Of Reading Pubwatch Picture: Courtesy ACCREDITED: Simon Raza and Gabriel Lupo from The Roseate, with Best Bar None auditor Mike Worthingto­n.

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