Club Using Body-Heat to Create Energy Bags BBN Glasgow Award

Published: 6 November 2023

A Glasgow venue using dancers body-heat to create sustainable energy was among licensed premises honoured at the city's prestigious Best Bar None Awards.

SWG3 was presented with the coveted BBN Glasgow Sustainability Award in recognition of its innovative approach to heating and cooling its premises. The independent arts venue was among 71 Glasgow pubs, clubs and specialist entertainment venues honoured at a presentation ceremony in Glasgow's Grand Central Hotel on Nov 1st. In addition to its innovative energy system, SWG3 also employs a full-time Sustainability Officer, has developed a community garden space with beehives and uses compostable "glasses".

BBN Glasgow's annual awards recognise work by the city's licensed trade to enhance public safety and customer care. This year's event saw a total of 61 gold awards and 10 silver awards presented. This included seven new BBN Glasgow members which won gold awards in their first year and 11 premises receiving a gold award for the first time.

Overall Gold awards were also presented to The Cathouse Rock Club and The Garage (Late Night category); the University of Strathclyde Students Union (Specialist category), Armstrongs (Community Pub); Bag O'Nails (Community Pub with Food); The Crystal Palace (Standard category); the Old Plane Tree (Restaurant category) and The National Piping Centre (Hotel Category).

The Best Newcomer award went to Slay in Glassford Street and winners of the Best Designated Premises Manager of the Year category were Oliver McLean and Darren Marr, both of Howlin' Wolf in Bath Street.

Best Bar None Glasgow has been running in Glasgow since 2005 and is delivered on behalf of Glasgow's Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP) in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Retailers Against Crime (RAC), Police Scotland and the Licensed Trade.

Lise Fisher of Glasgow City Council, which runs the Best Bar None Glasgow initiative, congratulated licensees on their success.

She said: "The city's licensed premises and entertainment venues play an important role in Glasgow's economy and their commitment to continually raising standards has been rightly recognised by the Best Bar None Glasgow awards.

"We are absolutely delighted for our winning venues and, of course, for all the pubs, clubs, bars and hotels involved.

"It is particularly reassuring to have so many new venues signing up to Best Bar None Glasgow this year and to honour the hard work, expertise and dedication that goes into running safe, enjoyable and welcoming establishments." 

Members of BBN Glasgow benefit from regular training on topics such as stewarding, crime scene preservation, drug awareness, responsible drinking and recognising / protecting vulnerable people.

Premises were inspected ahead of the awards by an independent assessor. They were judged on their efforts around Prevention of Crime & Disorder, Securing Public Safety, Prevention of Public Nuisance, Promotion of Public Health and the Protection of Children from Harm.

The winners of the overall Gold BBN Glasgow awards will now be entered into the National Best Bar None awards.