Kenilworth's new Wetherspoon is one of several Warwickshire pubs to join the 'Best Bar None' scheme.

The national scheme has seen another 18 hospitality venues in Warwickshire sign up.

The initiative is designed to "raise standards, enhance safety, and celebrate excellence in licensed premises".

The Dictum of Kenilworth - which opened in July - has signed up as a member.

It comes after 12 venues in Warwick district were already given accreditation by Best Bar None.

The scheme is part of a wider push to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in Warwickshire.

Cllr Dale Bridgewater, Warwickshire County Council's portfolio holder for community safety and chair of the Safer Warwickshire Partnership Board, said: "It is fantastic that we have 18 more businesses, including our first venues in Nuneaton and Bedworth borough and Stratford-on-Avon district, signed up to Best Bar None following a successful pilot scheme in Warwick district.

"If you run a hospitality business, the scheme will get you national recognition for your hardworking staff and for your personal commitment to raising standards.

"Working to keep hospitality venues safe is part of a wide range of support that we offer for Warwickshire's businesses, and the Best Bar None scheme supports our night-time economy while celebrating the people who work so hard to ensure customers have a great experience.

"We recognise that Christmas is a time when businesses dependent on the night-time economy set themselves up for the year, so we are delighted to do what we can to support them.

"We want to recognise and reward the very best venues when it comes to safety, training, management, and customer service."

The latest venues to sign up are:

Warwick district:

• The Dictum of Kenilworth
• Fifteen, Leamington Spa
• The Fusilier, Leamington Spa

Nuneaton and Bedworth borough:

• Alties, Bedworth
• Bedworth Civic Hall
• The Black Swan in Hand, Nuneaton
• The Blue Bear, Nuneaton
• The Felix Holt, Nuneaton
• The George Eliot, Nuneaton
• Newdigate Arms, Bedworth
• Pizza Pazzo, Nuneaton
• The Travellers Rest, Bedworth

Stratford-on-Avon district:

• Beleza Rodizio, Stratford-upon-Avon
• The Bell Inn, Welford-on-Avon
• The Dirty Duck, Stratford-upon-Avon
• Miller & Carter, Stratford-upon-Avon
• Rose & Crown, Stratford-upon-Avon
• Stratford Sports Club