What Happened to the Firkin Pubs
(Please Note: This article was originally written in 2000 when I created my first pub review and travel guide. I’ve added some annotations and additions, and these are indicated.)
History
The Firkin pub chain was started in London in 1979 by David Bruce[1]. He stepped in and bought a few run-down pubs off the major brewers where they were unable to make them pay. As well as redocorating the pubs in a basic but friendly style, he introduced the long forgotten concept of pubs brewing their own beer.
The breweries were tiny and were located behind or underneath the pubs – often with viewing windows or hatches so that the ‘machinery’ became part of the environment.
I first became aware of the chain in 1980 when friends took me to one of the original pubs, the Goose and Firkin in Borough, London SE1. The pub was packed and the atmosphere very lively, with a pianist leading everyone through an old style pub sing-song. I also used to frequent the original Frog and Firkin – a tiny pub just by the Hammersmith & City line near Westbourne Park station. Another well known pub was the Phoenix and Firkin which occupied the old ticket office at Denmark Hill station in South London. The name refers to the fact that the ticket office was previously destroyed by fire, but was renovated to create the pub.
Expansion
With the success of the concept, the chain grew rapidly until 1988 when David Bruce sold the chain to European Leisure. The pubs changed hands a couple more times in a short period until in 1991 the chain was taken over by Allied Lyons (later Allied Domecq).
After this the chain expanded again, not just in London but all over the country – typically in university towns. There were a few wobbly periods but generally the pubs were excellent, had a great atmosphere and played good music too.
The 1995 CAMRA Good Beer Guide records that the chain had 44 pubs of which 19 actually brewed. (The non-brewery pubs were supplied by one of the other Firkin pubs). Each pub tended to have it’s own named bitter, along with the Dogbolter and other seasonal beers.The Dogbolter[2] was always my favourite drink as it tasted like nothing else – a rich, dark, strong brew, although it didn’t do to drink it all night long.
When going for a night out in London, trips to Firkin pubs were always on the schedule. My favourites were The Flyman and Firkin, Fanfare and Firkin in the West End of London, along with The Fringe and Firkin in Shepherds Bush. I can’t remember the name but the Firkin pub in Winchester was really good too.
The Bass Takeover
Apparently in the spring of 1999, Whitbread and Punch Taverns both made hostile bids to take over the entire Allied Domecq pub roster. After a bidding war, Whitbread pulled out of the running leaving Punch Taverns to take over with financing from Bass. It then appears that Punch Taverns sold the Firkin chain on to Bass.
Early in October 1999, signs were appearing in Firkin pubs in London announcing that Firkin beers were to be discontinued, to be replaced with two ‘new’ and ‘exciting’ brews – namely Tetleys and Burtons.
So on October 8th 1999 all brewing of Firkin beers stopped completely and all the brewing staff were made redundant. Some of the Central London Firkin pubs had stock left for a few days, but because of the high turnover, it didn’t last to the following weekend.
It is unclear why Punch Taverns/Bass bought the chain and then decided to cease production of the distinctive Firkin beers, but it was certainly not done in the interest of consumer choice[3]. Tetleys, and Burtons especially may have been quality beers, but they are limp and lifeless when compared to Firkin beer.
Relevant Links
Following any of the links in this section will take you away from this site and I can’t be held responsible for their content.
- Some background to the Bass takeover could be found on a CAMRA Press Release, but the page has been pulled now.
- Link to other brewing related news stories at the CAMRA Home Page.
- John Paul Adams also has a site with beer related facts including a list of all the Firkin pubs within the Greater London area.
- Wikipedia also has an entry on the Firkin Brewery
2010 Notes
- David Bruce is now a director of the Capital Pub Company which operates about 25 pubs in London. These pubs are appranetly not themed in the same way the Firkin pubs were, and none of them brew their own beer.
- Dogbolter actually does live on! The Ramsgate Brewery, based in Broadstairs brews Gadds’ Faithful Dogbolter Porter which I believe uses the same recipe as the original Firkin versions. And I have read comments that it tastes very like the original. You can read more about it in a blog post elsewhere on this site from 2009 entitled Firkin Dogbolter.
- In 2000 I naively believed that pub chains would care what their customer thought since it was the customers that chose to go there and buy the beer. Looking back it was obvious that Punch wanted to minimise costs and maximise profits so weren’t really interested in the craft brewing and other unique aspects of the Firkin chain. I guess they were also interested in acquiring a chain of pubs that were often in prime locations within towns.
28 Responses to “What Happened to the Firkin Pubs”
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[...] you want to read more about the history of the Firkin chain you could have a look at my Firkin page (now relocated into the Good Beer, Good Pubs articles section) or check out [...]
Like many, many other kiwi’s I used to work at the Frog n Firkin Pub in the early ’90s. Some great memory’s of that place. Lovely locals and a wonderful atmosphere
Interesting article. Do you happen to know where David Bruce got his equipment? Was Peter Austin active at the time in his system-selling enterprise?
Sorry Dick, I’m afraid I don’t know the answers to either of those questions.
I used to paint them and i hated painting the room where the beer was fermented.
Was that the smell of the paint or the beer, or the two smells combined?
Dogbolter, champion of beers and a bloody good reason to go to the nearest Firkin pub. I heard that ‘Hogbolter’ was a rebadged Dogbolter, sold by David Bruce’s Hogshead & Hedgehog pubs on the south coast – but I think they’ve gone now. Dogbolter home brew kits are pretty good – if you can find a home brew shop these days…..
I discovered Dogbolter when I was a young spotty-faced 18 year old, working in the Elephant & Castle area of London. I am sure it was the Frog & Firkin I frequented. As mentioned, 2-3 pints was all I could handle of Dogbolter and then I had to go on to the weak lagers/ales just to last the night … ahhh, memories.
Used to drink at the Frog every week, was wonderfull, this would have been in the late 80s. We used to arrive and play cards then a fella called Jartan played keyboard and sang rude songs till the end of the night and it was heaving. Even got the “drink untill i die” tie somewhere” and when worn people think its a old school tie. Many pints of Dogbolter under the bridge and a barley wine called Slaybells if I remember right at Christmas. And a food bar selling huge baps with various fillings for a quid …ahh those were the days !!!!
I worked in one (like many) as a student – the old fool & firkin in plymouth. Cracking beers, remember getting to name the seasonal christmas beer “the turkeys hoop”
spent all our spare time in there as well!
I always thought the fox and firkin in Lewisham was better than the frog. If the William Leask is the Ramsgate one he always knew a good beer though!
Introduced to dogbolter in 1983 and First year at med school (St georges). Every friday was a pilgrimage up the Northern line to Elephant and Castle to get hammered listening to Frankie boy Flame banging out classic tunes such as roll out the barrel and Lazy sunday afternoon…….such memories.
I used to go to the Goose at the Elephant and Castle, and fondly remember quaffing far too much dog bolter, and an equally brain crippling cloudy cider called ‘old rosie’, while joining in a good old sing-song with frankie flames barmy army!! I also remember celebrating my 21st at the goose, and after drinking copious amounts of dog bolder, trying to pour a pint into my newly acquired hip-flask … oh dear!! Happy Days!!!
Brett, your comments echo my own experiences with the Goose and drinking too much Dogbolter – which was extremely easy to do. In latter years the Dogbolter at the Flyman and Firkin in Shatfesbury Avenue always seemed to hit the spot too.
The Fox was my favourite – fantastic singalongs on Saturday night. Did the same 2 guys rotate around Firkin pubs doing the singsongs? I could drink a bit then but Dogbolter all night was asking for trouble – remember Weasel Water in the summer. happy days…
I seem to recall a few nights spent at the gloriously named “Ferret and Firkin in a Balloon up the creek” which was in Chelsea if I recall correctly. Maybe F&F pubs just rode the revival wave of the Brew-Pub businesses. There seems not to be so many micro-breweries around now. It may have been a crusty beer swilling image that was to blame because pubs now seem to be just full of £12 cocktails and polished small bottle foreign lagers.
Ah the Frog. I tried to find it last year, no trace. Some friends and I occasionally headed there from the south coast for a Sunday lunchtime game of Frog Bingo. One session shortly after the first or second red-nose day culminated in the whole pub throwing surplus red noses at each other. Hysterical
ah yes, I remeber a crawl of all 12(?) firkins in 1987, starting in victoria fields and ending at the goose, especially as I had a broken arm in a sling and fell down the tube at the end ! Is the brand for sale I wonder?
Oh, the memories. Mostly remember the Goose and the Phantom. And all the poor puns – If Phoenix my pint I’ll firkin have him, etc. Took an American friend to the Goose one night and he was all bravado at the start. 4 pints of Rosie (Rosie’s Old Swale?) and he couldn’t even stand up to go to the khazi. Loved the nights with Frankie Boy Flame and still treasure a live tape of his I bought one night and which was blasted all around Australia. Not sure they understood the chants of “Terry’s wasted millions” but that’s what cultural exchange is all about
I used to work at the Fanfare & Firkin when it opened -May 1996. It was a fab pub to work in and had staff of various nationalities there. I was the only English girl at the time
Used to like going to the Friar & Firkin after the day job at Euston as there was always a band on a Friday night. Good old days.
[...] that David Bruce would have been daft not to open another, and then another, until, in 1995, there were more than forty Firkins around the country. Even JD Wetherspoon began life as a single pub in North London, also in 1979, making it to seven [...]
I started drinking in the frog in about ’86 with my 1st job in London & went there practically every night often get thoroughly wasted on ‘bolter! As a “bit wet behind the ears” 17 year old Southerner, it was a great experience meeting all the world. With all the kiwis, Ozzie’s & Safricans it was a real education!
I’m pretty certain I was in the firkin club & still have my tankard for visiting all original 13 pubs before the sale ….hmm, good times
Many years ago, an old RAF chum of my father gave him a couple of Firkin sweatshirts which he passed on to my brother and me. Living in Canada, we had no idea of the places, but loved the slogans on them (mine was from the Frog – “Frog Od’s sake buy me a Firkin pint.”). Though I took several trips to the UK through the ’80s, I somehow managed to avoid actually going to one. Many years later, a chain (not associated with the original) started up here in Toronto and is still going, having spawned several imitators.
Excellent website. A lot of helpful info here. I’m sending it to several pals ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks on your sweat!
I worked at Fanfare and Firkin in the summer of 1998 and have many fond memories of the revelry – 1998 World Cup, a striper performing in the back for a bachelor party while other patrons sat around completely taken-aback, the motor bike couriers outside, the international staff, etc… Great times. I’m sorry to hear its no more… Cheers.
The Goose, Fox, Ferret, etc. I visited many and several of us had our stag dos at Firkin Pubs. A visit to Stamford Bridge wouldn’t have been complete. The evening entertainment was the best bit singing “Tipperary”, “Nelly the Elephant” and other great classics. Singing along was compulsory and they even used to have the words of some songs up on posters. If things got a bit to excitable then they used to shut down early and send us all home – nobody seemed to mind. The Dogbolter was as favorite but it did used to stain yer Tee-shirt!. Lord knows what they put in it. Happy days.
I use to be the DJ at the Philanthropist and firkin in St. Albans which was the old library. I loved the place and the beers, I’d never manage more than about 4 pints of Dogbolter I ended up DJing in the Firkin in Cambridge, Luton and Coventry, but St. Albans was always the best, live band and a DJ, many happy days spent in the Firkins.
My first “firkin” experience was the Ferret in Kensington, I lost count of how many others that I got “Dogboltered” in!! I was told that the ferret once held the record for the longest pub name in the world, “The ferret and firkin in a balloon and up the creek without a paddle”!!! Not sure how true it was but I was hooked!!