There were joyous celebrations at the Apex Hotel on Sunday night as Dundee premises scooped three of the top four prizes at the inaugural Best Bar None Scotland Awards.
Staff from Tickety Boo’s, Fat Sams and Abertay Student Centre were the proud winners with the fourth award, for best bar, being snapped up by The Archibald Simpson in Aberdeen.
Tickety Boo’s won the best pub award, Fat Sams was best nightclub and Abertay best specialist entertainment premises in Scotland. The winners were presented with their awards by Mark Baird of sponsors Diageo and representatives of the event’s other sponsors G4S and Blackadders Solicitors.
Around 300 representatives of premises from Aberdeen to Glasgow and the Lothians attended the event, which was formally opened by Lord Provost John Letford.
Justice minister Kenny MacAskill was guest of honour and he thanked those in attendance for playing their part in raising the standards of licensed premises across the country.
“Scotland does have a difficult relationship with alcohol but you do your jobs very well,” he said. “It’s about getting the balance right so that we can all enjoy a drink and a meal in safety. The licensed trade has improved immensely since I became a government minister.
Among those in attendance were Dundee City Council’s licensing convener Councillor Rod Wallace, Labour leader Councillor Kevin Keenan, Assistant Chief Constable Angela Wilson, Alan Dobie of the Scottish Business Crime Centre and Charlie Duthie of Wave 102, who was compere for the event.
The scheme, now in its seventh year, is organised by the Scottish Business Crime Centre and also sponsored by the Scottish Government. There are now 335 premises across Scotland accredited by Best Bar None and the awards are granted to alcohol-vending organisations with a long-standing commitment to social responsibility and the safety of people using their premises.