They have been named as the Best Bar None

The best bars and pubs in the south of Scotland were given the Borders’ Best Bar None award at a grand ceremony in St Boswell.

Representatives from 18 local licensed premises were presented with their prizes at Buccleuch Arms Hotel in St Boswells.

The Best Bar None Awards is supported by Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The award is given to bars in recognition for their commitment to a safer and more secure environment for the public and the winners’ premises will now be accredited with the scheme.

The prizes are broken into three levels: gold, silver and bronze depending on how well a premises met the Best Bar None criteria. One of the gold award winner, The Queens Head pub in Kelso is running for a national Best Bar None Scotland award, with a ceremony due to be held in Dunblane on 28 March.

Councillor John Greenwell, chair of the Scottish Borders Licensing Board said: ‘It’s really reassuring to see our bars taking customer care and safety seriously, which is what Best Bar None is all about. I congratulate all of our worthy winners and also wish the Queens Head the best of luck in the national finals.’

PC Nick Walker from the Scottish Borders Safer Communities Team, and local Best Bar None lead, added: ‘We are grateful to everyone who took part in Best Bar None and it was great to see everyone getting their awards. We are already looking ahead to this year’s scheme, which will launch in the coming weeks, and I hope we can get even for premises signed up.’

Here’s a list of this year’s winners:

Gold: Barony Castle (Eddleston); Buccleuch Arms Hotel (St Boswells); The Carters Rest (Jedburgh); The Cobbles Inn (Kelso); Coopers Bar (Hawick); Liddesdale Hotel (Newcastleton); Melrose Rugby Club; Oblo (Eyemouth); The Plough Hotel (Yetholm); The Queen’s Head Hotel (Kelso); Templehall Hotel (Morebattle); Town Arms Inn (Selkirk).

Silver: The Bridge Inn (Peebles); The Cross Keys (Peebles); Dryburgh Abbey Hotel; The Tavern Bar (Lilliardsedge).

Bronze: The Bourtree (Hawick); Hunter’s Hall (Galashiels).