The Firkin Saga: Brewing up entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince of Ales

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David Bruce

The Firkin Saga

Brewing up entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince of Ales

David Bruce

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English

Right Book Press
03 July 2025

Autobiography: business & industry; Memoirs; Business & management

Ready to raise a glass to an entrepreneurial adventure like no other?

Step into the wildly entertaining world of David Bruce OBE, an unconventional entrepreneur, and legendary founder of Bruce’s Brewery and the Firkin pubs brand, who took the brewing industry by storm. In The Firkin Saga, he shares nearly 60 years of beer, business and bold decisions.

In 1979, David defied the odds, opening London’s first pub in a century to brew its own beer – The Goose & Firkin – and proving his doubters wrong. What followed was a whirlwind of international ventures, charitable endeavours and a fair share of triumphs and setbacks.

From pub brawls to boardroom battles, this memoir is packed with incredible stories that shine a light onto the brewing industry and the remarkable career of a highly successful entrepreneur. Along the way, David shares invaluable business lessons, many learned the hard way, from trusting your instincts to mastering the art of delegation. And it’s all told with the same wit, irreverence and generous splash of humour that made his pubs and beers unforgettable.

If you love a great business adventure – or a good pint – this book is a real eye-opener. So, grab a drink, settle in and say “cheers!” to a story that proves how success is best served with a small side of fun and mischief.

By: David Bruce
Imprint: Right Book Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 425g
ISBN: 9781915483966
ISBN 10: 1915483964
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 03 July 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction My ten key business lessons Part 1 Foreword by Roger Protz 1. My first Firkin 2. How the Duke of York became a Goose 3. From early days to Old Peculier 4. Learning the hard way with punch-ups and pythons 5. The Goose spreads its wings 6. A Fox, a Frog and battles with bureaucracy 7. Fun runs, a busted nose and seeing red in Bristol 8. Booming pubs, a tax threat and brewing a Barbarian 9. Making tracks at Denmark Hill while the Balloon is going up 10. Battles with bureaucrats and other lowlifes 11. Skirmishes with squatters, losing directors and becoming a dad 12. Avoiding trains and finding a helpful bank 13. Fishy work in Highbury and finding out the Queen is my Hackney landlord 14. A Falcon, a Phantom, a Fuzzock and a Flamingo all join the Firkin menagerie 15. A Firkin farewell Part 2 Foreword by Charlie Papazian 16. From Firkins to philanthropy 17. Back to brewing and pubs 18. Off to the Big Apple in the Land of the Free 19. Honeypot buzzes along to a sticky end 20. Brewing up some capital ideas 21. From pubs to farm shops and a vineyard 22. Success breeds success Epilogue

David Bruce has enjoyed an extraordinary career as both an international entrepreneur and a philanthropist. After his early days in the world of beer at Courage and Theakston breweries, David struck out on his own, founding the eponymous Bruce’s Brewery and the first of its Firkin pubs in 1979. Following their sale in 1988, David not only co-founded and invested in several craft breweries across the globe, but also eleven new pub companies in the UK, as well as developing the Slug & Lettuce chain of bars. He also created The Bruce Trust to provide canal holidays for disabled, disadvantaged, or elderly people, and was awarded an OBE in 2021 for his services to charity. He credits his wife, Louise, with supporting all his business and charitable ventures over fifty-two years of marriage, as well as during the writing of this book.

Reviews for The Firkin Saga: Brewing up entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince of Ales

""One of the best books on beer, and on being an entrepreneur, ever! I devoured the whole thing in one sitting."" - John Hickenlooper, founder of the Wynkoop Brewery and United States Senator for Colorado ""A fast-paced and instructive account of how David Bruce earned his title of ‘The Prince of Ales’ and played a key role in the global craft beer revolution."" - Steve Hindy, cofounder of the Brooklyn Brewery and author ""This is a memoir of how to make the impossible happen."" - Sir Simon Jenkins, former editor of The Times and former Chairman of the National Trust ""David Bruce reached a generation and inspired a mood, and this book explains how he did it: imagination, determination and sheer hard work."" - Rob Dean, CMG President, Kennet & Avon Canal Trust ""Not only an entertaining book but also a useful guide for the budding entrepreneur."" - Dominic Walsh, former business editor for the leisure and drinks industry at The Times ""So much more than a memoir - this book draws out the essence of what it means to live life to the full."" - Laura Farris, former Member of Parliament for Newbury ""Always interesting. Always fun. Never dull. This is a really good read."" - Rt Hon the Lord Benyon, GCVO Lord Chamberlain