THE boss of international brewery chain Barracuda Group, Mark McQuater, made a flying visit to the Bridgewater Inn, Darwen.

The bar, in Church Street, was one of three in the country which Mr McQuater had never visited out of 250 the company owns. It has recently undergone a refurbishment.

He landed by helicopter at the Astley Bank hotel on Monday before journeying to the bar by a vintage bus organised Darwen PC Simon Harwood and PCSO Nick Gisicz.

Adam Hulme, manager of the Bridgewater, said: “He loved Darwen and the pub. "He especially liked our relationship with the local community and the police and wants to roll out the Darwen example nationwide.”

Mr McQuater later flew to another previously unvisited pub in Workington.