Coventry venues and hospitality businesses are set to be recognised for their commitment to demanding excellence in safety, training, management and customer experience in an awards ceremony this month.

More than 100 people from businesses, the hospitality industry and public sector organisations will be attending the Best Bar None Awards at Drapers Hall in the city centre on the evening of Thursday, July 11, to celebrate the work of venues to improve safety and standards.

Best Bar None is an accreditation scheme supported by the Home Office and drinks industry that aims to improve standards in licensed premises.

It is the industry gold standard and is delivered in the city by Coventry Business Improvement District (BID) and Coventry City Council.

Venues seeking to receive the accreditation commit significant time and resources to achieve the standards required and must reapply annually to evidence the standards are being maintained.

More than 20 venues are set to be recognised as Best Bar None accredited venues this year.

As well as receiving the accreditation, five venues will be presented with sector awards in line with the key assessment criteria for Best Bar None.

There will be awards presented for venue management, staff training and care, customer safety and welfare, customer experience and community, and then an overall winner representing the best of the best in Coventry.

Coventry BID and Coventry City Council has provided training and workshops to support venues in their applications, with staff trained and accredited by Best Bar None to deliver the training.

Coventry BID Manager Jo Glover said: “The Best Bar None accreditation is available for any venue. However it requires a significant dedication of time and effort to achieve, and any business who is accredited will have gone above and beyond to make the grade.

“These are businesses investing heavily in training, staff development and consistently developing extra initiatives to ensure the safety of the public when visiting their venues.

“To achieve Best Bar None a venue must go over and above the statutory levels required for health, safety, safeguarding and wellbeing.

“We are proud to have a thriving and vibrant night-time economy in Coventry and the number of businesses seeking to gain this accreditation is evidence of the sector’s commitment to set the highest possible standards.”

The Yard will be providing entertainment at the awards ceremony, with Diageo providing welcome drinks for guests.

Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council and Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, said: “This is a really important scheme because it recognises the values of retailers doing the best for customers.

“That means, first and foremost, safety and care for visitors, because we want everyone who visits Coventry to enjoy the hospitality on offer.

“Our licensing team at the Council work hard to monitor and assess the way pubs and clubs operate. Best Bar None is something we are very proud to promote, and we should recognise those venues who go the extra mile for local people or customers who are new to the city.

“Coventry is a great place to visit and that’s worth highlighting.”