Bedford Business Improvement District (BID) is supporting professionalism in pubs, clubs and bars to make the town a more welcoming place for visitors, day and night.

Subsidised training for bar staff in the BIIAB Level 1 Award in responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR) was sponsored with £1,000 from the BID which represents 575 levy-paying town centre organisations. Those venues taking part in the first round of the training were: The Bear, Elements, Chameleon, The Embassy, Krystal, Number 13/Corn Exchange and Vibes.

Best Bar None

A competition to find the best run bars in Bedford Borough was staged for a second time with the support of the BID.

‘Raising the bar’ in standards is the aim of the campaign.

BedfordBID sponsored the project along with Charles Wells Pub Company, National Best Bar None, Bedfordshire on Sunday newspaper and Bedford Borough Council. 

BedfordBID volunteer Board Member Paul Dawson of The Rose pub said: “Businesses that fund the BID include those that make an important contribution to the night time economy of the town – and that includes pubs and clubs. BedfordBID supports Best Bar None as a celebration of the safe and successful businesses which provide a service for customers night and day.  

The Best Bar None project sees venues assessed under a variety of headings and then accredited. From those that were accredited the very best were selected by judges and awards were  made at a gala dinner held in February 2014.

The Retail RadioLink and Exclusion Zone activity is also administered by BedfordBID, and in addition licensed premises benefit from the dining promotions run by BedfordBID. 

Awards for Top Venues at Best Bar None event

Elements Nightclub in Mill Street was the Judge’s Overall Winner with the Barley Mow, Bromham Road second.

Highly commended was the university Pub in the Hub.

The Public Choice voted for by Beds on Sunday readers as The Barley Mow.

An Outstanding Contribution was made to the Bedford Street Angels who are out and about Friday and Saturday nights.