📖 11 April 2025
Being safe is one of the most important considerations for everyone on a night out.
The return of the 13th Best Bar None Sheffield scheme in 2024/25 helped more venues in the city centre ensure everyone - customers and staff - to feel protected.
Here we take a look at work going on behind the scenes to make Sheffield city centre a better, more vibrant and safer place to visit.
📖 Introducing Sheffield city centre’s night time economy
Sheffield city centre alone has around 200 venues which can hold a premises licence, ranging from nightclubs to traditional pubs, independent bars and entertainment venues like cinemas or casinos.
As a sector it employs thousands of people, and naturally welcomes thousands more as visitors through venue doors each week.
📖 How the Best Bar None Sheffield scheme works
Best Bar None Sheffield was relaunched in 2023, following a break necessary due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is part of a national Home Office supported accreditation scheme which recognises responsible, thorough licensing practices. Sheffield’s scheme won the title of 'best overall scheme' in England and Wales in 2020.
Licensed premises, with an initial focus on the city centre, were invited to apply to take part. After an education session, they were prepared for an in-depth assessment.
Sheffield BID lead the scheme supported by Sheffield City Council and in partnership with South Yorkshire Police.
📖 What Best Bar None venues must demonstrate
Best Bar None accredited venues have proved that public safety and customer care are their top priorities.
Volunteer assessors undertake a detailed assessment which can last up to three hours.
Assessment criteria can include: having the right policies and procedures in place to reduce alcohol related crime and disorder, maintaining positive relationships with the police and local authorities or providing training on the Ask for Angela safety campaign.
There is also an emphasis on how managers look after their staff.
Venues can be assessed against 80-90 different points in total.
It’s a very extensive process and the whole idea is based on encouraging and nurturing venues to improve.
Some venues may be asked to provide extra information or documents after their assessment in order to secure their accreditation.
📖 The benefits of Best Bar None - the view from a venue
The Head of Steam is a bustling beer-led venue in the heart of Sheffield’s theatre complex.
In 2025, they walked away with the Best Pub Runner Up award as well as receiving the People's Choice award for Best Pub.
“It’s like having a trophy to say we are safe”, said Scott Nicholson, assistant manager at the Head of Steam.
📸 The Head of Steam
“I hope it does give customers confidence, because it’s an accreditation to say the council and partners believe this venue is safe.”
The 2023/24 scheme was the first time The Head of Steam Sheffield, which turned ten years old in 2024, had been part of the awards.
Scott said the team had benefited from extra support as a result, and felt confident they are working to the best standards possible. Staff in the night time economy must be conversant with a wide range of policies, from conflict management to hazards.
He added: “It’s helping us to become a better venue at the same time, it reinforces all the things we are doing. “It’s about taking care of our staff as well. If we don’t look after our team, we can’t look after our customers and if we can’t do that, we don’t have a business.”
📖 The Best Bar None awards
The crème de la crème of Best Bar None Sheffield were honoured at a glittering awards ceremony at Sheffield City Hall, on 25 February 2025.
Categories for the awards included best pub, bar or late bar, entertainment venue, nightclub, restaurant, independent and best chain, as well as an overall winner which demonstrated exceptional commitment.
📸 Frog & Parrot
📖 Get involved in Best Bar None Sheffield
Sheffield city centre venues which would like more information on the next Best Bar None Sheffield scheme for 2025/26 should email enquiries@sheffieldbid.com for further information.
📖 Accredited venues in Sheffield
The full list of accredited venues for 2025 is as follows:
- All Bar One
- Bamboo Door
- The Bankers Draft
- Bar One
- The Beehive
- The Benjamin Huntsman
- The Botanist
- Browns Brasserie & Bar
- Bungalows & Bears
- The Cavendish
- Common Room
- Corporation
- The Crucible (Sheffield Theatres)
- Ego Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar
- Firepit Rocks
- Forum Kitchen & Bar
- Foundry
- Gameshow All-Stars
- Genting Casino
- The Globe
- The Graduate
- Grosvenor Casino
- Guyshi BBQ + Bar
- Hallamshire Hotel
- The Head of Steam
- The Light Cinema Sheffield
- The Lyceum (Sheffield Theatres)
- Maida Vale
- The Museum
- The Nursery Tavern
- Panenka Bar & Grill
- Popworld
- Roxy Ball Room
- Sheffield Water Works Company
- Showroom Cinema & Cafe Bar
- SMOKE BBQ
- Tank
- Tiger Works
- Tsuki Restaurant & Bar
- Walkabout
- The Washington
