The Moon Under Water, The Garden Rooms, Pryzm nightclub, Walkabout and The Colombia Press are all celebrating after successfully achieving Best Bar None accreditation.
Best Bar None is a voluntary accreditation scheme supported by the Home Office, which is aimed primarily at promoting responsible management and rewarding excellence in licensed premises. The Watford scheme is run by Watford BID and supported by Pubwatch, Hertfordshire Police and Watford Borough Council.
The venues had to meet over 80 standards, providing evidence to show they match up to each one. The assessment is split into two categories – essential and bonus – and venues have been provided with a report showing the areas in which they are doing well and if there are bonus areas they can work towards.
Maria Manion, chief executive of Watford BID, said: “Watford’s town centre bars and restaurants are very well run and have policies in place that ensure their staff are well supported and the safety and welfare of their customers is a top priority, therefore it is important that they have the opportunity to demonstrate this and get recognition for it. We are so pleased all the applicants were successful and we hope more venues will put themselves forward for the accreditation next year.”
Kwame Tefe, Manager of The Moon Under Water, said: “We are proud to display the Best Bar None certificate, as it shows that The Moon Under Water is a safe pub, doing everything we should be doing to look after our customers and our staff. Best Bar None is a really important accreditation and we are delighted to have achieved it”.
Carrie-Anne Hunt-McBride from Walkabout Watford said: “Our Best Bar None certificate is fantastic validation of the hard work put in by all of our staff to ensure Walkabout is as safe and customer-friendly as can be. We’re delighted to have achieved this official recognition, and the fact that four other venues have achieved recognition is testament to the partnership working between venues and local authorities.”
All of the participating venues achieved a score of 85% or greater, for which they are commended on the official report for ‘not only have you met the basic requirements you have also demonstrated practices and standards that go ‘above and beyond’.
John Hattingh, Best Bar None Assessor, carried out the assessments on behalf of the BID. He said: “Every one of these venues impressed me. They could all demonstrate they had the required policies in place and were doing more than just the basics required by their license. They all recognised how important this accreditation was to them and their ability to attract customers in. Well done to all of them. As more venues get involved, Best Bar None will undoubtedly raise the standards across Watford.”
The news comes one month after the BID received confirmation that Watford town centre had been awarded the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and night-time economy(ENTE). Similar to the Blue Flag for beaches, the Purple Flag aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 17:00 & 05:00. Areas awarded the Purple Flag are recognised for providing a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture while promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and local residents.
Watford BID is funded by town centre businesses with the aim of enhancing the look & feel of the town, raising awareness of the town via marketing & events, and safeguarding the future of the town.