A Bedford pub, The Rose on the High Street has reached the finals of Best Bar None, a national award recognising the best run bars and pubs across the UK.

Paul Dawson, general manager of The Rose, which is owned and operated by Stonegate Pub Company, joined 200 guests attending the fifth annual Parliamentary Reception at The House of Lords to showcase Best Bar None (BBN) Awards 2013. A recognised award scheme supported by the Home Office, Best Bar None aims to promote the responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises.

Attendees included Best Bar None Overall Award winners from schemes around the country and industry supporters. Host for the evening – Lord Redesdale, Past BBN Chairman welcomed the guests to the event and said: “BBN is all about great standards and improving local economies for a safe and enjoyable night out”.

The Rose in Bedford was shortlisted as a finalist putting the pub in the top six best operated pubs and bars in the country.

In his speech, Philip Kolvin QC, Chairman of BBN, stated, “Best Bar None has always been fantastically valuable, it’s a wonderful scheme and one worth associating with. But in an age of austerity it ceases to be just good and becomes imperative.”

Commenting on the award Paul Dawson of The Rose, said, “This award recognises the commitment of the all who work at The Rose to ensure the pub reaches the very highest standards. Operating a business with strong, productive and positive partnership links with the local authority is absolutely key to ensuring a safe night out for all. Best Bar None status has not only become associated with safety during a night out but also about improvement in footfall, helping attract a more perceptive customer, and offering a competitive consumer edge which is invaluable in any economic climate.”

Simon Jackson, National Director of BBN, said in his speech, “We will show that there are alternatives to enforcement, proven solutions to some of the many issues which are sometimes wrongly attributed to the night time economy. We need to champion Best Bar None at every opportunity to ensure our pubs and bars are still the centre of our communities for many years to come.”