Barracuda wins Henley award

Pub company Barracuda has been named large business of the year at the Henley Business Awards held last week.

The Buckinghamshire-based managed pub chain, which how has 160 pubs across the UK, beat 3,000 other competitors to take the accolade.

Barracuda boss Mark McQuater also won the title business person of the year.

McQuater said: "The large business of the year award is a great tribute to the rapid growth we have experienced as a company since we started out five years ago."

The judges praised Barracuda's rapid expansion, which will see it open 30 new pubs this year, combined with a solid business plan for the next three to five years.

Set up in 2000, Barracuda recently completed a £262m secondary buy out and is now backed by private equity company Charterhouse Capital Partners.

The pub group's brands comprise Barracuda bars, Smith & Jones, Varsity and Juniper Inn.

By Chris Druce

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