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Important Notice: Closure of Licensing SAVI

Since our launch, Licensing SAVI has been proud to support thousands of venues across England and Wales in raising safety standards and reducing vulnerability within the night-time economy.

The initiative has operated for five years however, after review, is to close with effect from 30 April 2026.

·       Effective closure date: 30 April 2026

·       Existing accreditations: If a venue is currently accredited their Licensing SAVI accreditation status remains active for the remainder of their one-year accreditation period, with access to all assets. However they will not be able to renew their accreditation once it expires

·       New applications: We will not be accepting new accreditation applications from venues

Who to Contact Now:

·       For Licensing SAVI specific queries: Please contact 

·       For licensing advice & safety concerns: Please contact your local Police Alcohol Licensing Officer (PALO)

·       For regulatory or statutory enquiries: Please contact your Local Authority Licensing Team

In the Spotlight – Lincoln venues share their Licensing SAVI stories

Instead of us at Licensing SAVI telling you about why the initiative matters, we thought we’d let venues share their own experiences and what it means for their staff and customers. So we took a trip to Lincoln to capture their stories on film.

Watch the short film here.

What is Licensing SAVI?

As Ian Shuttleworth, Development Officer at Licensing SAVI, explains, “Licensing SAVI is a police approved safety award for licensed premises - it's a self-assessment tool for venue managers and it takes them through a series of questions, at the end of which they receive a star rating out of five stars, similar to the food hygiene rating but for safety, security and vulnerability.”

Why accreditation matters

Lincoln BIG (Business Improvement Group) work to improve the city centre experience for businesses, residents and visitors, putting Lincoln on the map as a vibrant retail and tourist destination. To support this, Lincoln BIG help fund licensed venues to gain their Licensing SAVI accreditation, showcasing Lincoln as a safe night out where venues take crime prevention and customer safety seriously. 

The local nighttime economy is vital to the city, and Lincoln BIG recognise the need to support the sector to help it survive. One way is by encouraging people to go out and spend money and this is closely linked to them feeling safe when they go out to bars and restaurants.

Reassurance for customers

A Licensing SAVI sticker in a venue instantly gives members of the public reassurance - they know the licensed venue is being checked and assessed for a police approved award for safety. More importantly, the venue is taking multiple steps to help protect its customers, from anti spiking initiatives and anti-terrorism precautions, to supporting vulnerable people, women and children, alongside implementing CCTV coverage, managing crowd control and a host of other safety measures.

Venue’s first-hand experiences

After completing the Licensing SAVI accreditation, General Manager George Tinkler-Venis of Carousel, an entertainment bar in Lincoln, said: “It’s a fantastic way as a venue manager to be able to review - the policies and procedures we have in one place.” Tom Shaw agrees - he’s the General Manager of STACK Lincoln, a 2,000 cover venue with 6 independent bars and 10 street food traders. “It’s a great tool to check in to make sure everything’s in one place, if you’re unaware of anything it teaches you how to get that procedure or policy in place”. Please look out for our free downloadable resources with tips and information to keep your venues safe.

“Having a Licensing SAVI accreditation is a huge positive in our industry, especially in this venue,” comments Daisy Stringer, General Manager at The Strait and Narrow, a Belgium craft beer, spirits and cocktail bar. “ Our customers know that we take their safety and their wellbeing very, very seriously”. The venue has retrained all their staff, educating them on ways to protect their customers, while also adopting measures to safeguard their team at the end of their shift.

5 Stars for Lincoln Venues

Carousel Lincoln, The Strait and Narrow and STACK Lincoln have all achieved 5 stars and Tom Shaw summed it up: “Getting that five stars was confirmation that we are doing everything right and we are delivering what's expected by the police and council and that's thanks to Licensing SAVI.”


Find out more about Licensing SAVI 

Licensing SAVI is more than just a tool; it's a movement towards a safer and more enjoyable night-time economy. By embracing this initiative, venues can demonstrate their commitment to safety, reduce the risk of crime, and contribute to a vibrant and thriving social scene.

Find out more at Licensing SAVI, the police backed security initiative for licensed premises which captures in one place, the wider legal requirements, design, good working practices, trade initiatives, security and technology attributed to meeting the licensing objectives.