A bar owner has spoken of his pride after winning a new award recognising well-run and safe pubs, clubs and bars.

The City Wall Wine Bar in Rochester High Street is the latest recipient of the Best Bar None Awards – a scheme backed by the Home Office and rolled out across the country to assess safety practices at licenced premises.

Owner Sanjay Raval said: “It was a big team effort from the management and staff to achieve it, so I’m very proud of them.

“We had to provide various risk assessments and licences. There’s a huge list of safety manuals and certificates you have to provide. I believe I’m only one of five across Medway to have got the award.

He added: “I belong to the Medway LVA (Licenced Victuallers Association), and it was something we were looking to develop as a safety award among our members. So I was the guinea pig

“It’s just to reassure the public and customers that we are a safe place – that we’ve done due diligence and thorough checks. It gives the public more confidence. With recent drink spiking, and this that and the other, it’s important that staff have safety in mind.”

Accreditation lasts for a year, and the assessment is regularly updated to ensure current priorities such as the safety of women and girls are included.

To be considered, premises owners have to submit evidence in four categories – including ‘venue management’, ‘staff training and care’, ‘customer safety and welfare’, and ‘customer service and community’, the latter acknowledging that businesses provide a warm welcome to customers and the communities they are part of.

Sanjay received the award in a presentation by Kent Police at the City Wall.