Prize-winning pub? We’ll have a double
Duo reckon they have found the right mix for successful boozers
The owners of last year’s Sunday Mail Pub of the Year are hoping to see their new watering hole crowned too.
Mikey Lennon, 43, and Gareth Kelly, 40, were delighted when the Kings Arms in Fenwick, Ayrshire, scooped top prize in the 2021 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards – just 18 months after taking over the bar.
They believe if they can work their magic on the Kadikoi bar in Kilmarnock, it might be in with a chance of winning the title of Scotland’s best boozer.
Mikey admitted winning last year’s big award has spurred them on – despite the hardships inflicted on the hospitality industry during lockdown.
He said: “The Kings Arms had been closed longer than it had been open due to the pandemic. We opened the doors 18 days before lockdown, then had to shut the doors for months.
“As a new business, winning the award was massive but we worked hard and diversified. It was brilliant to be recognised for our hard work.
“Winning also boosted business as people read about us and decided to come in and see for themselves. The Sunday Mail mirror has pride of place in the pub and is the first thing customers see when they come through the doors.”
Mikey, who was born and brought up
Heather Greenaway
in Kilmarnock, added: “Our success with the Kings Arms gave us the confidence to go looking for another project and ‘the Kadi’ found us.
“We took over the lease a few weeks ago and had our grand opening last Saturday. The place was heaving. People seemed to be enjoying themselves, so hopefully it’s going to go from strength to strength too.”
The Kadikoi – named after the scene of a battle in the Crimean War in which lots of soldiers from Kilmarnock perished – has been one of the town’s most famous pubs for decades.
Mikey said: “Kilmarnock is dear to both our hearts and we want to help create a buzz about the town again.”
The Sunday Mail is launching its search for this year’s top pub. We want readers to raise a glass to ttheir favourite bar and cast ca votes to win the Sunday Su Mail Pub of the Year Yea at the 2022 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards.
Voting V closes on July 31, with winners announced at an AAbba-themed ceremony at tthe Doubletree Hilton Glasgow Central on August 30. Vote at scottishbarandpubawards.com.
Susan Young, of DRAM magazine, which runs the awards, said: “Scotland may be a wee country but we have some of the best and friendly pubs on the planet.”