First-class licenced venues across Bradford have been celebrated at the return of a prestigious awards ceremony
The event recognised the outstanding contributions of bars, pubs, businesses and nightlife venues to the city's vibrant social economy and commitment to customer safety and satisfaction.
The Best Bar None Awards, now in its 2nd year for Bradford, continued to set the standard for excellence in hospitality. Organised by Bradford at Night, the awards showcased the exemplary efforts of businesses that go above and beyond to provide memorable experiences while prioritizing customer welfare.
Each year, a panel of independent judges including Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Alison Lowe, meticulously evaluated venues achieving accreditation based on various criteria, including responsible alcohol service, staff training, cleanliness, and overall customer experience. The awards not only celebrate excellence but also serve as a catalyst for continuous improvement within the industry.
Alison Lowe, OBE “Congratulations to all the night’s winners for their amazing efforts in making Bradford a safe, vibrant and welcoming place. The Best Bar None awards are a fantastic opportunity both to celebrate the improvements made by our venues while also highlighting important initiatives such as Ask for Angela and Safety Apps. I’m pleased to support Bradford At Night’s excellent partnership approach to improving the city’s night-time economy as two of our top priorities remain the safety of women and girls and reducing serious violence
In addition to recognizing individual establishments, the Best Bar None Awards set the tone for Managing Director Elizabeth Murphy to unveil the new strategy for Bradford at Night, ‘Improve, Inspire, and Innovation’ to over 200 guests in attendance. The new strategy confidently leads the organisation out of covid recovery and into an ethos focusing on providing the support and guidance to members in their network. All ready to embrace the new journey for the organisation.
Elizabeth Murphy, Managing Director: “We’re proudly fostering an ethos of community engagement and collaboration among businesses, local authorities, and residents. By promoting responsible trading and safer nightlife environments, participating venues contribute to the well-being and enjoyment of patrons citywide. The Best Bar None Awards highlight the exceptional standards upheld by our hospitality sector. We commend all nominees for their dedication to providing enjoyable experiences while prioritizing customer safety. As we celebrate excellence tonight, we also reaffirm our commitment to fostering a culture of responsibility and inclusivity within our nightlife community."
In addition to the Best Bar None awards, Director Tom Walling spoke a touching tribute to a founding member of the organisation, Stephanie Sexton. Presenting the organisations award for operational excellence ‘The Stephanie Sexton Award’.
Tom Walling: “Such hard work has been put in this year, and despite negative perceptions, we’re continuing the path that our members have helped create. Whilst the Best Bar None awards showcase commitment across the city, the Stephanie Sexton award not only harness the spirit we want to see in our network, but also acts as a catalyst for others to strive for excellence in the name of somebody who did so everyday.
Not only has the Bradford at Night Network grown, but those completing accreditation increased from 15 in 2023 to over 23 in 2024. We'd like to encourage more venues to join in - such as hotels, theatres and restaurants - next year.”
Best Pub: Ginger Goose
Best Bar: The Brass Owl, North Parade
Best Late Night Venue: Napoleons Casino
Best Live Music/Performance Venue: Alhambra Theatre
Peoples Choice - Venue: Ginger Goose
Peoples Choice - Team Member: Tierney Devanney
Stephanie Sexton Award (Operational Excellence): Nightrain
Best Hotel: Midland Hotel, Cheapside
Community Award: The Light Cinema
Best Independent Venue: University of Bradford
Best Chain: Turls Green, Wetherspoons
Outstanding Contribution Award: Mr Mits Mistry and Mr Adam Wright
Overall Winner: Napoleons Casino
