Three Gravesend town centre pubs have been awarded Best Bar None accreditation, recognising their work towards creating a safe and secure environment.
TJ’s, The Goose and The Robert Pocock have all scored highly from an independent assessment. They demonstrated they had training, policies, and procedures in place to make their venues safe for customers.
Best Bar None is a free accreditation scheme. First launched in Manchester in 2003 to promote responsible management and operation of licensed venues. With support from the Home Office, the scheme has grown across the UK. There are now more than 50 local authorities joining Best Bar None.
Gravesham have launched the scheme in partnership with Kent Police.
Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Deputy Leader, said: “Best Bar None is a unique way to showcase our commitment as a community to work together to maintain the highest standards of safety and enforcement. Ensuring everyone can enjoy the best that Gravesham has to offer in our pubs, bars, and licensed premises.
“Our night-time economy has changed over many years, with the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis accelerating these changes.
“However, thanks to the work we and partners, including Kent Police, have carried out over recent years, the level of recorded crime in Gravesham is reducing across almost all crime categories.
“This fails to be reflected when social media posts and speculation exaggerate issues which are limited and often connected to issues outside the Borough. This only serves to have a negative knock-on effect on our local economy.
“Working with Best Bar None accredited businesses allows us to target our resources and efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour, to ensure we have a safe town centre and a borough to be proud of. Helping our business and our twilight and night-time economy to grow again.”
Dorota Trapl, who conducts the assessments, said: “The process to become accredited is easy and we support venues through it by providing training and support.”
Iris Smith of TJ’s said: “The assessor team was helpful, supportive, and answered all our questions.
“I carried out the assessment in the morning and by the afternoon I had received my accreditation, assessment report and display materials.
“The accreditation recognises the measures in place to ensure a safe environment for those visiting our pub.”
The Wetherspoon’s management team with Kent Police Licensing and CSU BBN assessor. Photo: GBC