Drink-fuelled trouble tackled by awards

POLICE on patrol in Oldham on a Friday night. The Best Bar None awards scheme is to be introduced in the town centre to tackle the town’s “Wild West” image

Oldham Town Centre partnership
PUBS and clubs are set to prove that they are the Best Bar None in a bid to shake off the town centre’s “Wild West” tag.

The national awards scheme, which was piloted in Manchester in 2003, is supported by the Home Office and aims to reduce drink-fuelled crime and disorder.

It is being introduced in the town centre by the police and Oldham Council and will be the 100th scheme in the country.

Bars and pubs which meet certain standards will be awarded Best Bar None status, with the top venues entered in the Best Bar None awards.

Oldham town centre was dubbed the “Wild West” by Oldham MP Phil Woolas in 2002.

Then last year it hit the national headlines when a nightclub ran a £5.99 all-you-can-drink promotion. This prompted the council to introduce new measures to crack down on cheap booze.

The Best Bar None website states: “Oldham’s reputation for a rowdy night out has cast a shadow over the town for some time now.

“Oldham has been working hard at reducing crime and disorder and turning around the negative national image that has been portrayed.”