Record 83 Glasgow pubs, clubs and venues win Best Bar None awards

A record 83 licensed premises in Glasgow received Best Bar None awards at a ceremony in the city's Grand Central Hotel on Wednesday 11 November 2026.

Sixty-three venues achieved Gold awards and 20 achieved Silver, Glasgow City Council announced.

Who won the main awards?

Coopers took Best Newcomer and The Press Bar was named Most Improved Venue. Ross Henderson, manager of the Sir John Moore, and deputy manager Susan Dick won Designated Premises Manager and Deputy Designated Premises Manager of the year.

The Leonardo Royal Hotel won the Sustainability Award for the first time, and the Grassroots Music Award went to Audio and Grace's Irish Bar.

Overall Gold awards went to venues including The Howlin' Wolf and The Social in the late night category, the University of Strathclyde Students' Union in the specialist category, The Chrystal Bell as community pub, Coopers and The Grosvenor Café as community pub with food, and The Sir John Moore in the standard category.

What is Best Bar None?

It is an accreditation scheme for licensed premises that rewards safe, well-run venues. Members in Glasgow receive regular training on topics such as stewarding, drug awareness, responsible drinking and recognising and protecting vulnerable people.

Premises were inspected before the awards by four independent assessors. They were judged on preventing crime and disorder, securing public safety, preventing public nuisance, promoting public health and protecting children and young people from harm.

What has the Licensing Board said?

Bailie Margaret Morgan, chair of Glasgow Licensing Board, welcomed the results. "It is great to see so many city venues striving to achieve excellence in customer safety and providing an enjoyable experience for customers," she said.

"The results are a true testament to the ongoing hard work and dedication of licensees and their staff across the city."