Kai's bar knocks competition for six

A pub that based an innovative promotion around the recent ICC World Twenty20 Tournament has scooped the Pepsi Cricket Pub 2009 Prize.

Bar manager Adam Smith and colleague Toby Kheng picked up the award on behalf of Kai's bar in Louth, Lincolnshire, at the World Cup Final at Lord's yesterday.

As well as winning the al- expenses-paid trip to the final - where Pakistan beat Sri Lanka - Kai's Bar, which is part of the Kurnia Group, was also given a replica of the Ashes to mark its achievement.

The pub beat off stiff competition to land the award, which is run in association with The Publican​.

Judges were impressed by a Kai's bar promotion that saw customers given vouchers when buying food and drink. The vouchers could then be redeemed for prizes when boundaries were hit during Twenty20 matches.

Adam said: "The promotion worked really well for us as a way of not only getting people in the pub but also keeping them there as well.

"We are thinking of ways of taking this forward now as we head to the Ashes."

He added: "It is fantastic to win this award and we had a brilliant day at Lord's. It just goes to show that cricket is a great way to drive footfall into pubs."

And to show the bar's support for cricket Kai bar boss Michael Kheng has recently taken on running the bar at a nearby cricket pavilion to provide a top service for cricket players and fans alike.

Kai's bar just beat competition runner-up the Bat & Ball, run by Jason and Sandra Eastlake at Hambledon in Hampshire, to the top prize.