Exeter City Football Club was delighted to win the award for Best Community Venue at the Best Bar None awards, held at Reed Hall at the University of Exeter on Wednesday, March 14.
Best Bar None is an accreditation scheme with national awards, supported by the Home Office and drinks industry which is aimed primarily at promoting responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises.
Exeter City FC were accepted as a member last year, and the awards held annually celebrate good practice and the great strides that the hospitality industry has taken in making things safer and more enjoyable.
The club faced stiff competition from well-established pubs, bars and clubs around the City and were also highly commended in the Most Improved category.
This award and recognition represents the values of the club and all that it offers to Exeter and the local community, not just on match days, but throughout the year.
Rose Clace, head of food and drinks at Exeter City said: “Thank you to everyone for buying into our vision of how we want Exeter City to be run.
“We provide good quality hot food on match days to guests and sponsors and regularly receive glowing feedback on the quality of our food. We are proud to be able to cater for all, from conferencing to weddings and community events.
“Our aim is to provide a safe and welcoming environment to all visitors and to be respectful to the surrounding area.”
The criteria for the Community Venue award was:
- The premises are used by all members of the community including families
- The primary business model/focus is not the sale of alcohol
- Hot food or snacks are available at the venue
- The venue actively engages with the people and community of Exeter or immediately surrounding areas
- The venue actively supports and engages in a local charity/organisation/community engagement
Speaking about the awards, John Hutchinson, bar supervisor (DPS) at Exeter City commented: “We are very much the hub of the community of Exeter and are always working towards improving our standards and offering new products to all our customers.
“Safety and inclusivity is paramount to everything the club does and is our ethos.”
In line with the Government sugar tax that comes into play in April, the club have introduced a variety of healthier option drinks that contain less sugar and will continue to add more to this initiative.
Exeter City would like to thank the whole team involved in earning this recognition, and for the hard work that goes on behind the scenes at the Park. The club will be entering more awards at Best Bar None 2019, so watch this space!