York’s safe & welcoming venues celebrated at inaugural Best Bar None Awards 

City centre pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs and entertainment venues have been recognised for their commitment to providing safe, welcoming and enjoyable experiences at the inaugural York Best Bar None Awards. 

Hosted by York BID on Thursday 11 June, the awards celebrated businesses that have demonstrated excellence in safety, customer care and community engagement. This year’s awards recognised 26 Best Bar None accredited venues from across York city centre’s evening and night-time economy. 

Supported by Apex Radio Systems, the event brought together businesses and safety partners to celebrate the collective effort that helps make York a welcoming and vibrant city after dark. 

Alongside the accredited venues receiving their trophies last night, the 2026 winners in 7 different categories were announced. 

Award Winners 

Best Hotel or Restaurant – McDonald’s Blake Street 

Best Entertainment Venue – The York Dungeon 

Best Independent Venue – Evil Eye 

Best National Venue – Slug and Lettuce, York Riverside 

Best Late Night Venue – Club Salvation 

Special Recognition – Circuit York 

Best Overall Venue – Club Salvation 

Best Bar None is a national accreditation scheme supported by the Home Office, hospitality and drinks industries. Accredited venues are independently assessed against four key themes: venue management, staff training and care, customer safety and welfare, and customer service and community engagement. 

Sara Bull, Events & Engagement Co-ordinator at York BID, who leads on the accreditation assessments locally, said: “These awards have been a brilliant opportunity to recognise the venues and teams that consistently go above and beyond for their customers. Achieving Best Bar None accreditation is not just a tick-box exercise. Venues undergo a detailed assessment covering everything from staff training and operational procedures to customer welfare and community engagement. 

“The businesses recognised through the scheme play a vital role in making York’s evening and night-time economy safe, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.” 

York BID delivers the Best Bar None scheme in the city centre, in partnership with businesses, North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council and other stakeholders. 

The awards were open to all venues that achieved Best Bar None accreditation during the current assessment period. Applications for the next round of York Best Bar None accreditation will open in July 2026. Licensed venues across the city centre are encouraged to take part and join the growing network of businesses committed to delivering safe, high-quality customer experiences. Accreditation is free for York BID members. 

For more information about Best Bar None accreditation, contact safetynetwork@theyorkbid.com