Our President

Philip Barnett

Island Restaurant Group Ltd.
Operators of Barracuda Grill, Hog Penny and Pickled Onion restaurants

Philip Barnett is the current President of Island Restaurant Group Ltd. (IRG), a position he has held since 2002. Prior to succeeding to the President’s position, he was General Manager of both Gourmet International Ltd and Tandom Ltd, which were then merged to form IRG under his tenure. Philip has three other Bermudian partners in IRG with the shareholdings held equally between all four of them. With just under seventy-five full time employees, which swell to just under one hundred employees with the addition of part timers and summer students, IRG is one of the larger employers in Bermuda. However, number of employees notwithstanding, Philip understands all the challenges that small businesses encounter, as the nature of the restaurant industry with high costs of labour, sales and fixed costs, necessitates the wearing of many hats to stay profitable, and keep the business sustainable.

Philip formerly worked for the Spectra Group of Great Restaurants in Vancouver, Canada, which he fell into during the time he was gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree through the University of British Columbia. Starting as a potwasher, Philip, was soon waiting tables and upon graduation was enticed into a management position, rising through the ranks until the time he returned home to Bermuda in 1997, leaving Spectra as General Manager of their flagship restaurant operation. Philip has now worked in the restaurant industry for 22 years.

Former to his presidency at the Bermuda Chamber, Philip was a Vice President for two years, as well as the Chairman of the Restaurant Division for five years. Philip currently sits on the International Business Forum (IBF), Waterfront Development Task Force, and has sat on the Employment Task Force, and the Bermuda Entertainment Task Force.Philip resides in Somerset and is married to Melanie, and has two children Benjamin and Hailey.

Our Team