PRESS RELEASE
New book from David Bruce OBE, founder
of the Firkin pubs; “The Firkin Saga: Brewing up entrepreneurial
adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince of Ales”
“The Firkin Saga: Brewing up
entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince
of Ales” the new book from entrepreneur David Bruce OBE will be
published, in hardback, paperback, ebook and audio-book formats,
on 3rd July 2025.
The Firkin Saga invites readers to
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, which took the brewing
industry by storm.
In The Firkin Saga David shares
nearly 50 years of beer, business and bold decisions; providing
invaluable business lessons, from trusting your instincts to
mastering the art of delegation; all told with the same wit,
irreverence and generous splash of humour that made his pubs and
beers unforgettable.
David Bruce OBE
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 both triumphs and setbacks.
The Firkin Saga: Brewing up
entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince
of Ales
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.
“The Firkin Saga: Brewing up
entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince
of Ales" offers:
David Bruce OBE
Inspiration from an entrepreneurial
trailblazer – including insight into how David built a
groundbreaking business, defied industry norms and turned bold
ideas into a lasting legacy.
Valuable business lessons from real-world
experience – from risk-taking and resilience to leadership and
delegation, learn practical lessons from both the triumphs and
challenges of a successful entrepreneur.
An entertaining behind-the-scenes look at
the brewing industry – with humour, wit and unforgettable
anecdotes, this book offers a front-row seat to the highs, lows
and unexpected twists of a fascinating career in beer and
business.
Chapters span David’s life from 1958 to
2016 and include: My first Firkin; How the Duke of York became a
Goose; From early days to Old Peculier; Learning the hard way
with punch-ups and pythons; The Goose spreads its wings; A Fox,
a Frog and battles with bureaucracy; Fun runs, a busted nose and
seeing red in Bristol; Booming pubs, a tax threat and brewing a
Barbarian; Making tracks at Denmark Hill while the Balloon is
going up; Battles with bureaucrats and other lowlifes;
Skirmishes with squatters, losing directors and becoming a dad;
and adventures in farm shops and vineyards.
If you love a great business adventure –
or simply 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.
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 and The Bruce Foundation to provide respectively
canal and motorhome holidays for disabled, disadvantaged, or
elderly. David was awarded an OBE in 2021 for his services to
charity.
The Firkin Saga: Brewing up
entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince
of Ales
Author: David Bruce OBE
Pub Date: 3rd July 2025
ISBN 13: 978-1-915483-96-6
Format: Hardback RRP £24.95 / Paperback RRP
£18.99
Also available in eBook and Audio
Extent: 344pp
Category: Business Biography
