The founder of the Firkin brewpub chain, which reignited interest in the concept of the brew pub, David Bruce OBE, has now published a part-memoir, part business guide “The Firkin Saga - brewing up entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tallest with the Prince of Ales”.
Bruce said: “Having spent my whole career in the international brewing and pub industries, I want to share in this business memoir my first 50 years as a brewer and my many roller-coaster, helter-skelter, entrepreneurial escapades in the hope that this will inspire current and aspiring entrepreneurs.”
Charting Bruce’s early career, starting out as a management trainee at Theakston’s, before going on to found the first Firkin pub, the Goose and Firkin in 1979 which grew to 11 sites before he sold the business just shy of his 40th birthday in 1988.
Firkin flourish
The Firkin chain would continue to flourish and grow to a huge 170 sites until 2000 when new owners, Punch Taverns, retired the brand.
Bruce went on to co-found the Capital Pub Company along with Clive Watson, which was eventually acquired by Greene King for £93m in 2011.
Other companies the serial entrepreneur was involved with included Grosvenor Inns, which rolled out the Slug and Lettuce brand, City Pub Co, both east and west, again with Clive Watson, and the West Berkshire Brewery.
Bruce said the book follows his experiences throughout his career: “Looking back, much of my journey seems stranger than fiction, as it highlights the many triumphs and failures I encountered while creating or investing in new businesses from Paris to Seattle via London and New York.”
The publication also shares Bruce’s 10 key business lessons, which include “encourage and nurture free PR, even if it entails fancy dress”.
The book, with a foreword by Roger Protz, is published on July 3 and available in all good bookshops and online.