Licensed venues in Plymouth raise a glass to safety and close partnership working
Police and pub staff said ‘cheers’ as they celebrated the hard work of licensed venues in Plymouth to keep people safe and offer a great night out.
Guests recently attended the annual Best Bar None (BBN) awards at Home Park football stadium, the home of Plymouth Argyle FC.
Superintendent Phil Williams, of Devon & Cornwall Police, gave a short speech and presented two of the awards. The Supt praised the partnership behind Plymouth’s success, emphasising the collaboration between venues, police, local authorities, and partners which keeps the city’s night-time economy thriving.
Best Bar None Plymouth Co-ordinator Cat Macdonald reflected on how far the scheme has come in driving ‘safer socialising’ across the city. She said: “These venues represent the best of Plymouth; not just great food, drink and entertainment but real care for customers, staff and the wider community.” She also highlighted how schemes like BBN and Purple Flag work hand in hand to keep the city enjoyable and safe. Plymouth was recently awarded Purple Flag accreditation for the sixth year in a row after being judged on its vibrant, secure and welcoming night life.
The Best Bar None scheme is a national Home Office backed accreditation programme that rewards licensed venues which meet the highest standards in safety, staff training, and customer welfare. To achieve accreditation, venues undergo a comprehensive annual assessment and take part in ongoing training around initiatives such as Ask for Angela, drug awareness, and vulnerability management.
Around 50 Plymouth venues are currently BBN accredited and proudly display their stickers to show the public they promote quality and responsibility.
Only accredited venues are eligible for the awards and judging was based on a mix of assessments and mystery shop results, plus bonus points for active engagement, staff development, and community partnership. The evening also recognised the individuals behind the bar and at the door who deliver exceptional service, safety awareness, and care for customers.
Awards were presented to door supervisors and hospitality staff who have shown exceptional professionalism and compassion in their work.
The Overall Winner of Best Bar None 2025 was Annabel’s and they will join Cat Macdonald at the National Awards at the House of Lords in March 2026 representing Plymouth. A raffle on the night raised funds for the Plymouth City Pastors and the University of Plymouth Nite Patrol team. Both teams were invited to the event and warmly thanked for their tireless work supporting the city centre’s night-time safety.
The event took place on 4 November and Cat Macdonald commented that it was encouraging to see many new venues join the Plymouth BBN scheme this year, including several independently run businesses.
Anyone interested in joining the free Best Bar None scheme or finding out more can contact Cat by emailing plymouthbbn@gmail.com for details on how to get involved.
Below photos show winners and Supt Phil Williams who presented some of the awards
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