The Angel Bar, in Caversham, and the World Turned Upside Down, on Basingstoke Road, have both been awarded the accolade which denotes high standards in safety and practises for venues.

Best Bar None is a joint initiative between Pubwatch, the Business Improvement District, and Reading Borough Council.

Accreditation is awarded to venues after a rigorous external audit of the safety and training policies and procedures, and general working practises.

Venues opt into the scheme and volunteer to be audited, and those with high enough standards are presented with an award to mark them out as safe, welcoming businesses.

It also looks to reduce crime and disorder, and encourages cooperation between venues.

Standards are set out by by the national Best Bar None Board, but Reading’s scheme is organised by Reading Pubwatch.

The Angel Bar, located in Prospect Street, Caversham, is a cocktail bar independently owned by Meena Arch and Paul Duxberry.

Ms Arch said: “Our team was delighted that we have been accredited as a Best Bar None venue which reflects the hard work ensuring our policies and procedure met the exacting standards set by the national BBN Board.”

Bill Donne, secretary of Reading Pubwatch and the coordinator of the county-wide scheme said: “Reading Pubwatch as promoters of the BBN scheme are delighted that two more venues in Reading have achieved BBN accreditation status.”