Why we built it
Pubs and bars can be important local employers, social spaces and community partners. Bars.co.uk gives venues a clear way to show that contribution and helps the public understand responsible practice.
Public venue pages begin with Food Standards Agency food hygiene records. Venues can add community information, supporting evidence and a yearly Responsible Community Venue result.
The standard is optional. A venue does not need to claim its page or join the standard to have a public page. Both venues and the public can use our fair routes to correct information and resolve eligible concerns.
Clear sources
Every fact says where it came from. Official data, venue statements and our own work are kept separate.
Independent
Payment cannot buy a better score, higher position or more favourable coverage. An audit fee only pays for the review.
Positive
Venues can show the jobs, services and support they provide for local people.
Fair to both sides
People can ask for a correction. Venues can reply or appeal. Mediation is private.
How the service helps
Transparent venue pages. They bring together clearly sourced public information and venue-supplied community details. They begin with records that the Food Standards Agency classifies as Pub/bar/nightclub. This is food hygiene data, not a list of alcohol premises licences.
Responsible Community Venue Standard. This is a private and optional Bars.co.uk standard. A self-certified result is based on answers from the venue. An audited result has also had an independent sample review.
Free community mediation. This gives adults and venues a private way to understand an eligible non-contract community issue and agree practical next steps. It does not handle disputes about purchases or paid services. We do not publish unverified claims or use them to make a hidden complaint score.
Public bodies do not endorse this service
We name the Food Standards Agency and other public data providers as our sources. This does not mean that they, a council or any other public body approve Bars.co.uk.
How to check our work
You can read our method and data sources. You can also ask for a correction or appeal a certification decision.
We date important changes to our calculations. We do not change a saved annual ranking unless we also add a correction note.