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Bournemouth Best Bar None Night 2008

Simon Gilbert and Marcus Wareing from Overall Winners Bar So & 1812 , presented by John McNamara (BII

Bournemouth celebrated in style for the Awards Night of Best Bar None 2008, held at the Dorchester Suite of the Highcliff Marriott Hotel on Bournemouth’s West Cliff. The event was attended by 150 people from the night time economy, together with guests from the alliances, the Police, Dorset Fire and Rescue and Bournemouth Borough Council. The evening was ably compèred by Fire FM’s duo Jade and Dave, and finished off with the Jay (Jerry) Ratchet Disco.

The keynote speaker for the night was John McNamara, Chief Executive of the BII, who emphasised the towns’ success having achieved a 92% pass rate – 24 clubs accredited out of 26 applications. He also highlighted the need to trumpet the industry and to be proud of the high standards reached and the product that Bournemouth offered to it’s residents and visitors. He said “you won’t find many people celebrating their wedding in a Costa Coffee, nothing wrong with them but they just don’t have the right ambience – we’re in the entertainment business and it’s important to remember that.”


John McNamara, Chief Executive of the BII	Jon Shipp, Night Time Economy Co-ordinator	Steve Wright, Principal Licensing Officer

Jon Shipp, Night Time Economy Co-ordinator told the 150 guests that “tonight is about the venues and the people who work in our industry, and especially those who have completed this gruelling test. Our common aim is to develop Bournemouth as a safe and vibrant resort and I believe that Best Bar None is a great stage for that”

Steve Wright, Principal Licensing Officer applauded his team of assessors from Licensing, Dorset Fire and Rescue and the Police. He also made special mention of the bars, pubs and clubs who had participated, stressing the lengths that many venues had gone to achieve their highest possible score.

Best Bar None 2008 – Accredited venues and winners: