David Bruce (brewer)
Encyclopedia
Alexander David Michael Bruce (born July 1948 in Shimla, India) is an entrepreneur and has been involved in the international brewing and leisure industry for over 40 years, in a career that has covered both production and retailing.
David went on to found the Firkin Pub
chain and Bruce's Brewery, 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 1980s; 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, The Wynkoop Brewery in Denver, Colorado and The Paris Real Ale Brewery S.A (now FrogPubs Paris).
David is also Non-Executive Director of The Capital Pub Company PLC, which he co-founded with Clive Watson. The Capital Pub Company PLC raised over £15million under the EIS
and was admitted to AIM
in June 2007.
The pubs are non-branded and un-themed and each serves its local community. As genuine free houses the pubs offer customers a wide range of products served by friendly and well-trained staff. CPC now runs 25 successful pubs in London.
Convivial London Pubs PLC, which David also co-founded, raised just under £16 million under the EIS.
David was also Executive Director of Grosvenor Inns PLC, where he was responsible for the roll-out of The Slug and Lettuce brand.
As well as being the founding trustee for The Bruce Trust, David is also currently Vice-President of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.
Early career
David Bruce, 61, began his career in 1966 brewing with both Courage Ltd and Theakston's Brewery for 6 years. This was immediately followed by 6 years licensed retail experience with Charram Ltd and The Star Group of Companies.David went on to found the Firkin Pub
Firkin Brewery
The Firkin Brewery was a chain of pubs in the United Kingdom. The original UK chain is now defunct, but a number of pubs operate under the Firkin name in other countries. The chain took its name from the firkin, an old English unit of volume....
chain and Bruce's Brewery, 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 1980s; 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, The Wynkoop Brewery in Denver, Colorado and The Paris Real Ale Brewery S.A (now FrogPubs Paris).
Employment
David is currently Executive Chairman of Country Food & Dining, a multi-site farm shop business founded by Gordon Leatherdale. The Country Food and Dining Group of Companies has now raised over £6 million from private investors. Country Food and Dining has several high quality, well located farm shop businesses, each offering on-site catering and operating principally in the South of England. Country Food and Dining now operates 4 successful sites: Cobbs Farm Shop & Kitchen near Hungerford, Woody’s Farm Shop & Dining near Bath, Greenfields Farm Shop in Donnington, and has just purchased its fourth site in Winchester named The Good Life, which will be receiving the Country Food and Dining reinvention in the near future.David is also Non-Executive Director of The Capital Pub Company PLC, which he co-founded with Clive Watson. The Capital Pub Company PLC raised over £15million under the EIS
Enterprise Investment Scheme
The Enterprise Investment Scheme is a series of tax reliefs designed to encourage investments in small unquoted companies carrying on a qualifying trade in the United Kingdom.-Purpose:...
and was admitted to AIM
Alternative Investment Market
AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main market....
in June 2007.
The pubs are non-branded and un-themed and each serves its local community. As genuine free houses the pubs offer customers a wide range of products served by friendly and well-trained staff. CPC now runs 25 successful pubs in London.
Convivial London Pubs PLC, which David also co-founded, raised just under £16 million under the EIS.
David was also Executive Director of Grosvenor Inns PLC, where he was responsible for the roll-out of The Slug and Lettuce brand.
Charitable Work
Following the sale of the Firkin pubs and Bruce's Brewery, Bruce, together with his wife, Louise, set up The Bruce Trust. The Bruce Trust is a registered charity which provides purpose-built, wide-beam canal boats on the Kennet and Avon Canal from two bases, for hire for self catering holidays by disabled, disadvantaged or elderly people and their carers.As well as being the founding trustee for The Bruce Trust, David is also currently Vice-President of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.