STAFF at Bacardi-Martini are celebrating the opening of Bat Byte, the company's information, learning and chill-out centre in Western Docks, Southampton.

Staff gathered to watch the centre, which has been kept closely under wraps, be officially opened by executive directors Chris Searle and John Speirs.

The centre, which will be constantly accessible, can be used during work times for business-related activity and also be used during personal time to surf the Web, use educational PC programmes or simply make use of a computer.

Each new employee to the company will receive their company induction at the centre, to familiarise themselves with what the centre has to offer.

Mr Searle said: "Our staff deserve first-class facilities and this is what we have achieved with Bat Byte.

"It is a centre which can be used for business activities and personal development. We are looking forward to Bat Byte's continuous

development.''

Sally Smyth, who will manage the centre, has been overseeing the development. "The aim was to create a room that would not only appear welcoming but would also entice people to use the room, whether to use the Internet or be able to catch up on some reading."

The centre was named by Bacardi-Martini's Wendy Mayo after an internal competition to find a name.

Bat Byte will be the hub of company news, information and personal development.

This is yet another benefit which the company can offer its 550 staff. Present benefits include a free staff restaurant, a non-contributory pension, healthcare, free parking, birthday and Christmas packs for all staff and an annual company event.

This year the company came eighth in the Sunday Times listing of 100 best companies to work for, staying in the top ten for the third consecutive year.

It was also named as one of the ten great companies to work for in Fortune Magazine.

The company pledged to raise £20,000 to be donated to Southampton's Countess Mountbatten House and the Blue Cross animal centre.