We're committed to running the safest venues in London. Our on-campus venues are for students, they exist to help you make the most of your time at UCL. We want you to feel comfortable, safe, and at home when you're spending time in our bars or event spaces.
Safety initiatives in our venues:
To make our venues as safe as possible, we have:
- Delivered additional training for door supervisors and ensure all door supervisors are trained in spiking awareness, tackling sexual violence and responding to issues raised at events.
- Increased the number of security staff and venue supervisors on busy nights so there are always additional staff members present with a focus on student safety.
- Increased bag, pocket and wallet searches for those entering our venues on event nights.
- Continued to request female door supervisors to be scheduled to work at our venues from our security provider.
- Created a wellbeing space in all of our venues. Students can use this space to take a break from the event, find friends, and arrange a safe journey home – in a safe a secure place.
- Clearly communicated the process for reporting sexual harassment and assault through UCL’s Report + Support tool.
- Provided freely available drink lids, spiking testing kits and bottle stops in our venues. Ask behind the bar for yours.
- Ensured all of our staff are trained as Active Bystanders and have undertaken the CPL Drink Spiking awareness course. If you would like more information about spiking including common symptoms, how to prevent it and support available please read our dedicated spiking information page.
What else we do to make our venues safe:
- Ask for Student ID on entry in Phineas, Mully’s and Huntley – student ID will be checked against other photo ID to ensure only students and their guests are able to visit
- Conduct bag searches at events in our venues.
- Serve tap water on request, rather than through communal jugs.
- Implement the Ask for Angela scheme and regularly train student staff in processes around student safety.
- Regularly liaise with police licencing officers on the safe running of our venues.
- Ensure all security staff and venue managers and bar supervisors are first aid trained.
- Have a zero-tolerance approach to sexual misconduct, drink spiking or harassment and where necessary ban anyone responsible of this behaviour from entering any of our venues.
- We will never ask someone to leave on their own, our security team will always try to find your friends or call you a taxi/friend or family where possible.
- We're members of the Best Bar None scheme with all our bars having held Gold Accreditation for the last two years. You can learn more about the Best Bar None scheme below.
Want to take positive action today?
- Take the Active Bystander course and learn how to make safe interventions if you witness inappropriate behaviours.
- Report any incidents of sexual misconduct, bullying or harassment using the Report + Support tool.
- Join the Tasadot page to help improve current data on spiking. Tasa. provides anonymous reporting, promotion of a caring going - out community and provision of clear advice both during and after a spiking incident.
If you have been spiked, it's important to remember that it wasn't your fault. Sexual violence is a crime, no matter who commits it or where it happens.
We're here to support you.
If you have experienced sexual violence, we’re ready to help you in any way you need. Contact our advisors who will be able to help you find the right support. Our Advice Service has also compiled a comprehensive list of support services accessible to you.
You can also speak to UCL’s Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Advisor by email ([email protected]), or at a weekly drop-in service on Wednesdays - booked by email.
What is Best Bar None?
Best Bar None is a national accreditation scheme backed by the Home office for clubs, pubs, bars and any business that serves alcohol. All venues undergo a rigorous annual assessment and are measured across four areas:
- Venue management: assesses security measures and steps taken to reduce noise, litter and other effects the business may have
- Staff training and care: show staff are supported by the business to perform their role, develop and grow, and to protect their wellbeing
- Customer safety and welfare: reviews how well the venue takes care of its customers including preventing alcohol being sold to those under 18
- Customer service and community: recognises that businesses work hard to provide a warm welcome to their customers and the communities they are part of
To maintain our Gold Accreditation our bars must act upon any recommendations outlined made in our previous assessment and be compliant with our Bar Policies
Where can I read your full bar policies?
In addition to our Bar Entry Policy, you can read all our bar policies below: