Barracuda Group has opened its 200th pub today in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, the 100th under its Smith & Jones brand.

The managed pub operator has taken six years to get to the 200 pub milestone.

It was formed in July 2000 with the acquisition of 35 pubs by a group of four directors led by former JD Wetherspoon managing director Mark McQuater and venture capitalists PPM Ventures.

Since then Barracuda has made three further acquisitions as well as being subject to a £262m management buyout in 2005.

At the end of 2006 Barracuda Group increased turnover by 19% to £127.1m (2005: £108.8m).

At the beginning of this month it launched a fifth retail brand, Cape, in Nottingham.

With Smith & Jones accounting for half of the Barracuda estate, the company also operates Varsity, Juniper Inns and Barracuda Bars brands.

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By Christopher Walton

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