Sound Penzance has won a prestigious national award from National Best Bar None.

On Wednesday, November 26, the management team from Sound, along with Sarah Necke representing Cornwall Best Bar None and the local MP Andrew George, attended the national awards ceremony at the House of Lords in London to be presented with the top award.

National Best Bar None were impressed by the quality of applications received but felt that Sound were set apart by the way in which they demonstrated working with the community.

The management team from Sound said: “We feel that it is important for the licensed trade to operate safe premises in Cornwall, but we also feel that as a business it is important to be at the heart of the community – National Best Bar None supported our work with the community such as environmental clean ups, hosting of Street Pastors within our premises, fund raising for and hosting of a community defibrillator, as well as hosting training events and working closely with schools in the area”.

Sound has also been the overall winner for Cornwall Best Bar None for the past two years.

Dave George who coordinated the scheme in Cornwall for five years said “Cornwall Best Bar None was established to encourage and maintain high standards for the management of licensed premises. The success of our local Best Bar None winner, Sound, in achieving recognition at national level reflects the high standards of management that they deliver in their premises. The success of Sound should be an incentive for other licensed premises in Cornwall to apply for BBN accreditation.”

The Cornwall Scheme is overseen by the Cornwall Licensing Strategy Group a partnership of the licensed trade – local and national – and statutory agencies.

The Scheme has been developed to provide the opportunity to licensed premises in Cornwall to become Best Bar None accredited.

Jez Bayes chair of Cornwall Licensing Forum, and alcohol strategy lead for Cornwall said: “On behalf of Cornwall Best Bar None, the Safer Cornwall Partnership and Cornwall Public Health, we congratulate Sound Penzance on a magnificent achievement. We also feel we have the right to take this as a huge endorsement of the high standards of our own Cornwall Best Bar None scheme, which Sound has won for the last two years.

"Best Bar None is becoming increasingly important. Having premises like Sound leading the way is setting a great example to their competitors because anyone wanting to be accredited, or to try to steal their crown, has to prove that they are reaching good standards across a range of important issues.

"People looking for a good, safe night out should look out for the Best Bar None signage, and know that those premises have demonstrated their high standards on safety, responsibility, staff training, and concern for their neighbourhoods. Let’s hope a Cornish business wins the national award again next year – but Sound will have to win the Cornish award first, and I’m sure that they will face stiff competition.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg said: “I am delighted that all the hard work by Rob Matthews and his team has been recognised nationally.”

“Alcohol related crime and misuse has a massive impact on our society, both in terms of health and policing. The cost is enormous, and we must do everything we can to reduce this.”

Cornwall Best Bar None is hosting their next awards ceremony in February 2015.