Licensed premises up for industry ‘oscars’

Twenty licensed premises from across Conwy and Denbighshire have been accredited as part of a national industry ‘oscars’ scheme for pubs and clubs, the first scheme of its kind in North Wales.

Conwy and Denbighshire Councils’ joint Licensing Teams are administering the Best Bar None scheme, which is backed by the Home Office and the British Institute of Innkeepers.

Twenty eight premises across both counties applied for the awards scheme, with twenty of them meeting the essential criteria.

They are:

Conwy:

• Club 147, Llandudno
• Town House Cafe Bar, Llandudno
• Broadway Boulevard, Llandudno
• Fountains Bar-Cafe, Llandudno
• Palladium, Llandudno
• The Red Lion, Old Colwyn
• The Wendover, Towyn
• The Quay Hotel & Spa, Deganwy
• Kinmel Bay Social Club

Denbighshire:

• The Picture House, Ruthin
• The Castle Hotel Bar, St Peters Square, Ruthin
• The Anchor Inn, Ruthin
• The Wynnstay Arms, Ruthin
• Manorhaus,Ruthin
• The Venue, Ruthin
• Three Pigeons Inn, Graigfechan
• Kinmel Arms Tavern, Llandrynog
• Prince of Wales, Llangollen
• Last Orders, Rhyl
• The Ffrith, Prestatyn

They will receive their official accreditation at an awards ceremony being held in St Asaph on November 30. Winners will then be announced in the Best Bar, Best Club, Best Pub and Best Leisure Complex categories, with an overall winner.

Media partners Heart Radio will also be announcing its listeners’ award.during the event.

An independent panel, consisting representatives of the main sponsors, the Conwy and Denbighshire Community Safety Partnership and Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, will judge the final stage.

Councillor Sharon Frobisher, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, said: “We are delighted with the amount of interest shown in this year’s inaugural awards and we look forward to celebrating their achievements of the applicants later in the year.

“Best Bar None is all about promoting and encouraging responsible management of licensed premises and those applicants shortlisted have done extremely well to meet the strict criteria.

“Having Best Bar None accreditation of this nature can really be a boost to a business, especially in the current economic climate. We really hope that those accredited will feel proud of their achievement and will help us to promote the need for responsible management of premises across both counties.”


Councillor Philip Evans, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said, “The accreditation process is rigorous and premises must demonstrate their commitment to public safety, prevention of crime of disorder and protecting children from harm. I’m pleased that in this first year of the scheme in Conwy and Denbighshire twenty establishments have met the grade. I wish everyone all the very best for the final round of judging and look forward to hearing who is named Best Bar None.”