Kingston’s best boozers will compete against each other once again as the borough’s Best Bar None competition kicks off.

Kingstonfirst, organisers of the Best Bar None awards, have whittled down all licensed venues in the borough to just 18 worthy establishments that will go head to head this year.

Over the coming weeks organisers will visit all nominated pubs, bars and clubs to find out whether they make the cut in categories such as best pub, best late night venue, best staff and best door staff.

Last year the Ram in High Street narrowly missed out in one of the categories decided by the public vote.

But manager Sarah Paley said she was still excited about the annual shindig and was preparing for stiff competition once again.

She said: “We are just going to be continuing to do what we always do and customers come first.

"It would mean so much if we actually won. It would be so nice for our staff to be recognised for all their hardwork.”

This year there will be two new categories introduced into the mix – best member of staff and the person or venue that has contributed the most to the night time economy.

The Surrey Comet will also be backing the only two categories that will be decided by the public vote – best behind the bar and best atmosphere.

Last year Woody’s in Ram Passage took the best behind the bar prize after winning the Surrey Comet public vote.

Assistant manager Vince Bardsley said: “We still have the Surrey Comet article up in a prominent place.

"But unfortunately all the staff that helped win that award have now left and aren’t here anymore. But we still think we can win it. We can win everything."

Last year the best atmosphere award as voted for by the public went to Oceana Kingston, but nobody attended the ceremony from the club and the category was withdrawn.

The UK-wide awards, now in their seventh year in Kingston, aim to recognise the positive contribution made to communities by responsible licensees and promote sensible drinking.

To vote, email newsdesk@surreycomet.co.uk.

The Surrey Comet is asking for votes in two categories:

Best Behind the Bar (bar staff) and Best Atmosphere

The venues which have entered are:

The Hippodrome

The Cricketers
Slug and Lettuce
The Kings Tun
The Druids Head
Bishops out of Residence
Woody’s
Barcadia
Knights Park Bar (Kingston University)
Space Bar  (Kingston University)
The Ram
O’Neils
Oceana
The Kingston Mill
Acorn 20
Boaters
McCluskys
Gazebo