West End venues recognised for leading on safety and responsible management
This year, we celebrate accredited pubs, bars and clubs that are helping to make the West End safer and more welcoming at our 2026 Best Bar None Awards.
Wednesday 23 September 2026
This week we recognised 27 West End venues at our 2026 Best Bar None Awards, celebrating businesses that have achieved national accreditation for responsible venue management and safer nightlife.
The awards, held on Tuesday 22 September at BOX Piccadilly, honoured pubs, bars, clubs and other licensed venues across the Heart of London area that have met rigorous standards across safety, security, staff training, customer welfare and community engagement.
Best Bar None is a national accreditation scheme, supported by the Home Office, which recognises premises that demonstrate a commitment to raising standards, promoting excellence and reducing crime and anti‑social behaviour.
Our Best Bar None venues are setting the standard for what responsible, well‑run venues look like in one of the busiest night‑time economies in the world. This accreditation is not just about compliance; it is about culture – from how staff are trained and supported, to how customers are looked after when things go wrong. The venues we recognise are playing a direct role in making the West End safer, more welcoming and more resilient.
Mark Williams, Chief Executive of Heart of London Business Alliance
Ensuring the West End remains a safe and welcoming destination is a top priority for Westminster City Council. Initiatives like the Best Bar None scheme run by Heart of London Business Alliance are instrumental in achieving this goal, bringing businesses together to uphold the highest standards of safety and management. The scheme’s focus on collaboration and accountability has had a tangible impact, reinforcing the West End’s reputation as a world‑class destination where visitors, residents, and workers can enjoy a safe and vibrant experience.
Cllr Caroline Sargeant, Westminster City Council
Platinum Lace, one of the UK’s leading Gentleman’s Clubs, achieved the highest possible score of 100% across its two Leicester Square venues.
Platinum Lace has always gone above and beyond in the service we provide and our commitment to excellence. Achieving a 100% score across both our London venues is a proud recognition of the care our teams put into management, safety and customer experience every day. Best Bar None has given us a valuable independent measure of those standards and helped us identify where we can keep improving. We’re grateful to HOLBA for its support throughout the process.
Dan Reid, Director of Operations, Platinum Lace
Impact in practice
Venues taking part in the scheme report improvements in day‑to‑day operations, from more consistent incident recording to stronger communication between front‑of‑house, security and management.
Stronger incident management
For one major West End venue, the annual accreditation process provides a valuable opportunity to review policies and procedures, with particular improvements in how staff respond to incidents and preserve evidence for investigation.
More confident safeguarding
At another accredited venue, the process has prompted a more structured approach to responsible alcohol service, identifying vulnerable customers, conflict management and safeguarding. Staff are now more confident in spotting concerns early and escalating them appropriately.
Businesses that achieve accreditation benefit from:
- Being identified by customers as a well‑run establishment
- Inclusion on a nationwide list of accredited venues
- Access to partnership opportunities through the Best Bar None network
- Free tools, resources and best‑practice advice on crime and anti‑social behaviour
- Targeted staff training and support
The 2027 accreditation cycle will be open for venues on the HOLBA patch early in the new year. Interested businesses can find out more by contacting hello@holba.london