UK hospitality firms named among fastest growers

Eight hospitality companies were celebrating last week after being judged the fastest-growing businesses in the UK. Some of the industry's most successful entrepreneurs picked up awards at the Park Lane hotel in London, as the winners of the Deloitte Indy 100 were announced.

In ninth place was pub operator Massive, which was founded by Peter Linacre and Stephen Brook in 1993. It owns 40 pubs in and around London, operated under the names Thomas & Carter, Charbar, the Tups, L'auberges, and Massive Unbranded. Its turnover has risen from £3.8m in 1999 to £20m last year.

Festival Inns, the Edinburgh group with eight hotels and six bars and restaurants in the Scottish capital, came in 10th place.

Charlton House, the independent contract caterer that has grown at a rate of 30% for the past four years, was ranked 67th. It currently has annual sales of £40m from 116 contracts, including clients such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sony, Bupa and Network Rail.

Also included in the list were noodle restaurant chain Wagamama, pub and hotel manager Oceanhurst, hotel booking agency Hotel Connect, pub group Ultimate Leisure, and fast-food retailer Spudulike.

The award ranks medium-sized businesses with a turnover of between £5m and £100m that have shown consistent growth over the past four years and turned in a profit in their latest financial year.