Rapidly expanding Barracuda Group will open three pubs this week to cash in on the key Christmas and New Year period.

The openings take the total Barracuda Group estate to 216, with the company admitting to in excess of 25 acquisitions and refurbishments next year.

The Sovereign in Ramsgate and The Maskery in Congleton will operate under the contemporary Smith & Jones pub brand while a Barracuda Bar will open in Scunthorpe.

Barracuda currently operates 108 Smith & Jones pubs and 24 Barracuda Bars alongside its Cape, Varsity and Juniper Inns brands.

Chief executive, Mark McQuater, said: “The three new businesses mark the end of another successful year for Barracuda and show the wide geographical spread that our estate now covers.

“Opening any business less than two weeks before Christmas is a challenge, but our property, operations and training teams have pulled out all the stops to ensure that each pub opened on time and to the highest quality.”

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By Christopher Walton

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