David Bruce (brewer)

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David Bruce, 56, is the founder of the Firkin Pub chain, which started as a single pub in Elephant and Castle, London, in 1979. This concept initiated the 'Themed Pub' industry in the UK, each pub being distinctive not only because each pub name ended with 'Firkin' (e.g. 'The Goose and Firkin') but also because each pub brewed its' beer on site. Brews such as Dogbolter and Bruce's Best Bitter became synonymous with cleaner, wooden floored pubs offering good food and good ambience.

The chain grew to 10 pubs by the late 1980's; at which time Bruce sold the Firkins to a national company which expanded the chain across the UK.

Since then, Bruce has helped a number of Brewing businesses, including the Brooklyn Brewery in New York and presently (2006) runs a new Pub chain in London called The Capital Pub Company. A leisure trend spotter, Bruce identified a gap in the market for a chain of themed pubs in the late 1970's and has more recently spotted a gap for unthemed 'local friendly' pubs in the affluent areas of London. The Capital Pub Company now owns about 30 such pubs in London.

Following the sale of the Firkin pubs, Bruce, together with his wife, Louise, set up The Bruce Trust; a charity which provides canal holidays to disabled people in Southern England.