THE top venues in Bournemouth's night time economy were celebrated at the 2015 Best Bar None awards. Around 300 nominees and guests gathered at the O2 Academy in Boscombe on Wednesday night to applaud the top bars clubs, pub and entertainment and neighbourhood venues.

This is the eighth annual event that was sponsored by the Town Centre and Coastal Business Improvement Districts. Halo nightclub situated on Exeter Road became the first venue to win the award on consecutive years.

Also winning their categories were the Winchester Pub for Live Music and Arts, Yates’s for the Pubs category, in the Bar and Club section Bar So & 1812 who also won the Best Customer Service Awards, and The Grove Tavern for Community Venue.

A new award sponsored by RATP Yellow Buses to recognise the Best Door Team was presented to Walkabout by the Customer Services Manager Gareth Edwards. This year, the Daily Echo Editors Award was presented to Bournemouth live music venue Sound Circus.

The event was hosted by Jon Shipp, the Night Time Economy Co-ordinator, who welcomed the Mayor of Bournemouth for the keynote speech and also Mick McDonnell from National Best Bar None and Lisa Tucker, Chair of the Town Centre Business Improvement District.

Lisa said: “The BID is here to unite members in providing a better experience for our customers, and that is why we sponsor the Best Bar None event, to support the night time economy in its drive for continual improvement and to provide our customers with a simply great night out.”

Before the Awards started the Afric’ Art drummers involved the audience with a participative drum event, together with a circus styled act of vibrant colours and activity to get the mood going.