Honkers Pub cleans up at Best Bar None

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on July 29, 2022.

Submitted photo Megan Hacke, Chelsea Meyering, David Young (AGLC), Vicky Vanden Hoek, Marilyn Bajraktarevic and Mayor Blaine Hyggen celebrate at the AGLC Best Bar None awards.

Honkers Pub & Eatery cleaned up at the AGLC Best Bar None awards on Wednesday night.

The local establishment took home the People’s Choice awards of Best Business, Best Staff, Best Food and Best Community Involvement.

The awards were a part of celebrating three years of Best Bar None Lethbridge and recognizes the 15 local hospitality establishments gaining accreditation for their continued efforts to demonstrate responsible liquor service and patron safety.

“We were ecstatic and so proud of being able to win all four of the People’s Choice awards for 2022,” said Vicky Vanden Hoek, Honkers Pub & Eatery owner.

“We’re so proud of our staff, the support that we get of our customers and of course everybody that voted for us.”

The AGLC Best Bar None program has been offered to all restaurants, bars and pubs in Lethbridge since 2018, as well as doing it in other cities for many years.

“It’s a big deal,” she said.

“It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of time because basically you’re putting together almost, like you can say, an employee manual under all the guidelines because it’s not just under Alberta liquor control (AGLC). It’s also you’re working with the City of Lethbridge, city police, the fire department, Alberta Health Services- so you’re looking at all different factors – and just to be accredited is an award in itself.”

Vanden Hoek said it’s so important because they’re not just an open the door and pop-up shop when asked about taking part in the program.

“It’s like we take pride in making sure that both staff and customers and safe,” she said.

“And it’s not just the safety of food, but also when you do alcohol beverages; they’re making sure that they are getting a safe ride home, that they’re not being over served, that we’re taking into account that they’re very important and we want to make sure the community’s important. So it’s taking steps just to make sure that we do our job to make a fun, great atmosphere but also a safe place for people to come.”

Pops Taphouse and Grill took home best pub, best restaurant and bar went to Water Tower Grill and Pub and Pure Casino Lethbridge won the casino category.

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