PUBLICANS and staff from across the Borders gathered in St Boswells last week for the Best Bar None Awards.

The annual accreditation scheme recognises the hard work of hostelries in attempting to drive down disorder and provide a safer night out.

A total of 18 pubs, hotels, restaurants, social clubs and nightclubs were presented with awards during the evening at the Buccleuch Arms in St Boswells.

PC Nick Walker from the Scottish Borders Safer Communities Team told the Border Telegraph: “Best Bar None is great opportunity for premises and partner agencies in the Scottish Borders to work together in order to maintain safe and welcoming licensed venues.

"The process is very straightforward and Police Scotland and Council licensing staff are available to assist participants at all stages.

"The 2017 scheme will launch in the spring and I would encourage all local licensed premises to take part.”

Assessors visited licensed premises throughout the year to check if they meet criteria covering the five key elements of the Licensing Scotland Act 2005 - prevent crime and disorder, protect public safety, prevent public nuisance, promote public health, and protecting children.

The 18 premises which were recognised last Thursday are now accredited to the Scotland-wide scheme.

A total of 11 premises were presented with Gold Awards - Kings Arms Hotel (Melrose), OBLO (Eyemouth), The Horse and Hound (Bonchester Bridge), Rutherfords Micropub (Kelso), The Cobbles (Kelso), Innerleithen Union Club, Barony Castle Hotel (Eddleston), Hunters Hall (Galashiels), The Bourtree (Hawick), The Queens Head Hotel (Kelso), The Waggon Inn (Kelso).

The Allanton Inn, The Liddesdale Hotel (Newcastleton), Warehouse (Galashiels) and The Black Bull Hotel (Duns) were all presented with Silver Awards.

And Bronze Awards were given to the Grapevine (Galashiels), The County Hotel (Selkirk) and The Buccleuch Arms (St Boswells).

Councillor Donald Moffat, the Executive member for Community Safety, added: “Best Bar None continues to grow in the Borders, with a record number of winners this year.

"This shows that our licensed premises understand the benefits of the scheme and being able to show they are meeting consistently high standards.”

The Queens Head in Kelso is now in the running for a national Best Bar Scotland Award in the Best Hotel Bar category while the Waggon Inn is also nominated, in the Best Independent Pub section.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow on March 30.