York has been recognised for creating a safe and welcoming nighttime economy after winning a top national award. The city received the Best New Scheme title at the National Best Bar None Awards, which were held at the House of Lords on 24 March 2026.
The city’s safety programme is delivered locally by York BID, which has been working with local venues since July 2024. To date, 22 businesses across the city centre have achieved the accreditation, which is widely considered the gold standard for safer socialising. Supported by the Home Office, the national initiative currently includes more than 4,000 accredited premises across the UK.
Participating venues in York are assessed by qualified professionals on four specific areas: how the venue is managed, the level of staff training and care, customer safety and welfare, and how the business interacts with the community. Four qualified assessors are currently supporting the local scheme, which aims to complete another 25 assessments by the end of 2026.
Carl Alsop, operations manager at York BID, said the award recognises the collaboration between various partners, including local venues, North Yorkshire Police and the City of York Council. The scheme is also supported by the British Transport Police, Make It York, and the Mayoral Combined Authority.
In addition to the Best Bar None accreditation, York holds Purple Flag status, which is an international recognition for excellence in managing the evening and nighttime economy. To celebrate the success of the participating businesses, York BID plans to host the city’s first-ever local Best Bar None Awards this summer.
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