Oceana has been told it will not host a safe pubs awards ceremony and asked to consider its position in the competition.

The 2012 Kingston Best Bar None awards were postponed after the fatal stabbing of 20-year-old Jamie Sanderson.

Oceana has been told its involvement would undermine the January 29 event.

Leigh Whitehouse, chairman of the Safer Kingston Partnership, wrote to Oceana manager Dan Corry saying: “To award accreditation to your venue would not only be difficult for the victim's family to understand, I also think it would undermine the Best Bar None accreditation process as a whole.”

The Best Bar None awards, which has been running in Kingston for seven years, recognises positive contributions made by responsible licensees promoting sensible drinking.

Before the stabbing, the Surrey Comet had been asking readers to vote for their favourite venue in two different categories - Best Atmosphere and Best Bar Staff. Oceana had originally won the Best Atmosphere category.

Club owner Luminar and Kingston Council will attend a pre-hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Monday, January 28 as the club begins its attempt to overturn the council's decision to revoke its licence following Mr Sanderson's death.