Gala dinner for long-serving Barracuda staff

l Long-serving Barracuda staff enjoy their special night out at Chesters, Sunderland, one of the company's first acquisitions in 2000

July 10, 2007: Barracuda has rewarded long serving staff by holding its first ever gala dinner for those with five years or more service since the company was started in 2000.

The event was held at Chesters, in Sunderland, one of the first pubs that Barracuda bought from Enterprise Inns, and part of the former Vaux estate.

More than 70 pub managers and head office staff joined directors for a formal dinner and dance. This was completed by the presentation of an inscribed Montblanc pen to each guest in recognition of their long service.

Chief executive Mark McQuater said: “Even as a relatively young company, we felt that the time was right to recognise and reward those members of staff who have remained with the company as we have grown from a start-up seven years ago. Chesters in Sunderland seemed the perfect location to hold the dinner as it reflects the Juniper part of the estate where the company first began.”

Barracuda recently opened its 202nd pub in Dumfries, Scotland — a Smith & Jones pub and 16-bedroom hotel — and plans to increase the estate by a further 20 pubs and bars by the end of the year.