Firkin Info-List
Roger Burton-West
accountless. I'm posting this for him until he finds a new home. Any
questions or comments should, for the moment, be sent to me: but be
warned, I'll just collect them into a file until I see Sean again, not
work on them myself.
T H E F I R K I N I N F O - L I S T
an introduction to Firkin pubs and beer
Version 1.90 of 25-June-95 by Sean Desmond.
Compiled by Sean Desmond, Roger Burton-West and Sean Keane
CONTENTS
Introduction line 27
The Firkin Beers 42
What is a Firkin? 56
Firkin History 61
The Firkin Brewing Process 73
Dogbolter 122
Special Brews 143
Beer Storage 180
T-Shirts and other Goodies 199
The Firkin Crawl 215
The World Tour 225
The Firkin Club 243
Master Brewer's Address 252
The Firkin Directory 263
Firkin Forays 677
Hedgehog & Hogshead Pubs 694
Ex-Firkin Pubs 721
INTRODUCTION
Firkin pubs serve beer brewed either on the premises, or imported from
another pub in the chain. All of these "Firkin Beers" are real ales, served
either from the cask or from cellar tanks. Other ales and lagers are also
available. Because the Firkin chain is ultimately owned by Carlsberg-
Tetley, you can expect to see Castlemaine and other mass-market beers on
sale as well. Some pubs also serve Weston's "Old Rosie" Scrumpy, a real
cider.
If you're visiting London, my personal recommendations would be to visit
one or two of the Flounder, Fox, Farrier and Phoenix. See the directory for
addresses and other details. You shouldn't be too disappointed if you
visit any of the Firkin pubs listed here, though.
THE FIRKIN BEERS
There are two Firkin beers available in all of the pubs. These are
Dogbolter (5.6%) and Full Mash Mild (3.4%). Each pub will also have a
Bitter and Best Bitter, sold under house names. These are usually around
3.4-3.7% and 4.0-4.4% ABV. Dogbolter and Full Mash Mild can change in
strength from year to year, and the house ales vary from pub to pub as
well. A Christmas ale is seasonally brewed, and is usually available
from the start of December. The 1994-95 brew was Mistlet'Ale (8.0%).
Pint prices for winter 1994-5 were #1.30 or more for the Bitter, #1.45 or
more for the Best Bitter, #1.80 to #1.85 for Dogbolter and #2 for
Mistlet'Ale. The house ale prices vary from pub to pub, and are based on
the beer's alcohol percentage.
WHAT IS A FIRKIN?
A firkin is a small beer cask, holding nine gallons (72 pints), one-sixth
as much as a hogshead. Aluminium kegs hold at least nine gallons.
FIRKIN HISTORY
The first pub in the chain (the Goose & Firkin) was opened by David Bruce,
in 1979. It was converted from a shut-down Truman house, and now brews
full-mash beers. Many other pubs were added, until 1988, when the chain was
sold to Midsummer Leisure, now known as European Leisure. They were sold
again in 1990 to Stakis Leisure. The Firkin Pubs are currently owned by
Taylor Walker, which is a division of the brewing giant Carlsberg-Tetley.
Expansion of the chain has become more rapid in recent years, with three
more London pubs opened in 1993, and many more around the country to open
during 1994.
THE FIRKIN BREWING PROCESS
Firkin beers are made from the finest malted barley (mainly from East
Anglia), the choicest Kentish hops (called Fuggles and Goldings) and water.
Local water is used but is treated with crystals to neutralise some of the
acids in a process called Burtonisation (after the famous brewing waters at
Burton-on-Trent). The treated water is now known as liquor. It is stored in
the hot liquor back until its temperature reaches 80 degrees Celsius, and
then it is pumped along to the mash tun.
The hot liquor is mixed with the crushed malted barley and fills the bottom
half of the mash tun. This mixture is called "the goods". It is left for
one and a half hours, during which time the starch in the malt is
converted to sugar.
At the end of this time, the sweet wort is pumped into the copper. Once it
has drained, sparging begins, which is simply spraying hot liquor over the
grains. The liquor percolates down taking the malt extract and sugars
through the perforated base of the mash tun. This is the "wort". When all
the goodness has been extracted from the mash, the spent grains are then
dug out and used as cattle fodder.
The wort is brought to the boil in a large copper vessel, where hops are
added, which act as both flavouring and preservative. The wort is boiled
with the hops for one and a half hours, after which the heat to the copper
is switched off, allowing the hops to sink and form a natural filter bed.
The hopped wort is then pumped through a heat exchanger, which reduces its
temperature to 18 degrees, prior to filling the fermenting vessel. The
spent hops are dug out and may be used as garden fertiliser.
The yeast is added to the wort in the fermenting vessel, and the sugars in
the wort are converted by the yeast to alcohol and carbon dioxide. The more
sugar produced from the malt in the mash tun, the more the yeast can
convert into alcohol to produce a stronger beer.
The fermentation process lasts from four to five days, at the end of which
the beer is racked (put into casks). At this stage, finings (obtained from
the bladders of sturgeon fish) are added which clarify the beer by
coagulating the yeast and protein particles, which would otherwise cloud
the finished product.
The beer is stored for at least two days to mature and condition prior to
serving. Every Firkin brewpub can produce 1500 pints of Firkin beer each
time it brews.
[ Editor's note: the above is possibly dated information. According to
recent promotional material, only Fuggles hops are used, along with
White Otter malt. ]
DOGBOLTER
While brewing an Earthstopper (approx. 7.5%) in the cellar brewhouse, David
Bruce heard the telephone ring, so he clambered upstairs in his wellies to
answer it. The call was longer than expected and by the time he returned
the brew was no longer strong enough to be the notorious Earthstopper.
He decided to make the best of his mistake and announced in the bar that
there was no Earthstopper but that a "new" beer was to be launched by the
name of Dogbolter (5.6-6.0%).
The name has in fact been in the family for many years, ever since David's
favourite uncle in Yorkshire had inflicted more than a few pints of an
equally strong brew on some friends. Walking home through the wet and windy
night they slipped off the path, slithered into the beck and gave such a
shriek that both their dogs took fright and bolted onto the moors, not to
be seen again until morning.
Customers so enjoyed Dogbolter that David Bruce had to formulate a special
recipe to match his mistake and it has been brewed ever since in each of
the Firkin brewpubs.
SPECIAL BREWS
This is a list of some of the special Firkin brews I have seen.
Slay Bells (8.0%): This was the Christmas beer for 1992, according to the
Good Beer Guide. The name "Slay Bells" is also used for the Hedgehog &
Hogshead winter brews.
Red Dwarf (8.0%): The 1993 Christmas beer. Dry and powerful, it was a sipping
ale that could take up to an hour to finish a pint.
Mistlet'Ale (8.0%): The 1994 Christmas brew. Sweeter than its predecessor,
with a spicy flavour: reminded me of mince pies! Smooth and easy to get
quackered (technical term) drinking it.
Golden Sunrise (5.1%): A strong golden summer beer, available for most of
the year. It's a drier, less malty companion to Dogbolter, when available.
Rappenbrau (5.0%), Rockenbrau (6.0%), Punkenbrau (7.0%): Beers specially
brewed for the Firk-a-Fest in October '94, which I missed. They are all
German styles, at least one being a wheat beer.
Heiroglyphics (6.0%): A special brew from the Pharaoh, possibly to celebrate
its opening. I tried it in November, but it seemed to be suffering from a
bacterial infection at that time...
Black Heart Stout (5.0%?): A palatable sweet stout, sold for a while at
almost all Firkins. Pleasant to drink, and it mixed well with Dogbolter for
a Firkin "Black & Tan" (called Black Dog, perhaps?).
Flap On Your Back (4.0%): A tenth anniversary brew at the Flounder. It's a
light bitter with an acidic aftertaste which fades before you've drunk your
first half pint. Otherwise a good, smooth pint.
Beltane (4.0%): Brewed for the spring. A thin beer with a fruity aftertaste.
Could be described as watery.
BEER STORAGE
Most of the Firkin pubs use wooden casks (without breathers) to store and
serve their beer from. Some of the brewpubs still use cellar tanks,
storing the beer under a blanket of Nitrogen, or a mixture with Carbon
Dioxide. Blanket pressure in the tanks may affect the taste (particularly
the aftertaste) of some beers, giving them a drier, sharper edge. This may
lead to you getting a better pint in one of the non-brewing pubs than from
a pub that brews its own! The quality of the beer as served also depends
on the care the staff take in handling it.
Dogbolter seems to suffer the most in pubs that don't use casks. This is a
result of its centralised brewing and distribution, especially in London.
House ales tend to be brewed closer to the pubs that serve them.
It's usually worth asking about the storage system; you might find out how
knowledgeable the staff are about their system as well as what kind of
system is used.
T-SHIRTS AND OTHER GOODIES
All of the Firkin pubs sell T-shirts with the pub's logo on the front, and
a slogan featuring part of the pub's name on the back. They are available
in a range of colours, and are priced at #6-#7 each. Some pubs do
sweatshirts (same design) for #12. Firkin Brewery mugs are available in
some pubs, and you can buy Dogbolter brewing kits (40 pints) for about #6.
The Falcon & Firkin also serves takeout packs (polypins) of Dogbolter and
its house ales, which are available in 18 and 36 pint sizes. An 18 pint
polypin of Dogbolter costs slightly more than 18 pints bought over the bar.
There is also a range of Dogbolter merchandise, including a T-shirt (with
the Dogbolter pump clip logo on the front, and "Beware of the Firkin Dog
Bolter" on the back), a mug and an enamel pin. The Fulmar & Firkin also
sells a Dogbolter club tie.
THE FIRKIN CRAWL
This is a nationwide crawl of all the Firkin pubs, with no time limit. You
are given a passport to be stamped in each of the pubs, and you send this
back to the Master Brewer for your T-shirt when you've finished the crawl.
I did the crawl when the requirement was ten London pubs in a single day.
My shirt has "The Firkin Ale Trail" on the front, and the pubs' addresses
on the back.
THE WORLD TOUR
Almost all Firkin pubs offer another special drinking event for the more
sedentary. If you can drink nine or ten bottles of beer (varies from pub to
pub) from different countries in one day, you get a World Tour T-shirt, and
"they'll call your ambulance for free!" Each country has a specific bottled
beer associated with it. The tour at the Flounder is:
Molson (Canada)
Rolling Rock (USA)
Sol (Mexico)
Steinlager (New Zeland)
Budweiser-Budvar (Czech Republic)
Newcastle Brown (UK)
Lowenbrau Pils (Germany)
Grolsch (Holland)
Tooheys (Australia)
THE FIRKIN CLUB
Joining the Firkin Club (life membership is five pounds, cheques payable to
"The Firkin Club") entitles you to a 10% discount on T-shirts and other
Firkin merchandise, and a monthly newsletter with Firkin news and
competitions. You also get advance notice of outings and beer tastings, and
information about brewery tours. Write to the Master Brewer (address
follows) for more information.
MASTER BREWER'S ADDRESS
This address is the one to write to for Firkin Crawl and Firkin Club
information. It's actually a Taylor Walker office.
Phone: 0181 883-6431
Address: Master Brewer,
The Firkin Brewery,
77 Muswell Hill,
London N10 3PH.
THE FIRKIN DIRECTORY
This is a list of all of the Firkin pubs that I have current information
for. Please email me any corrections or additions.
The first four fields for each pub are self-explanatory. The Transport
field lists Underground stations, or British Rail stations if with the
suffix "BR". They are listed in increasing distance from the pub, but check
on train frequencies for the stations (for example, if you want to get to
the Fiddler, East Croydon is a mainline station with a much higher
frequency than the closer South Croydon). The house ales are listed with
Alcohol By Volume (ABV) figures where available. These may vary. The
T-shirt entry is the backprint; the front of the T-shirt is always the
pub's logo. The notes are mostly subjective.
Name: Falcon & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1986
Phone: 0181 985-0693
Address: 360 Victoria Park Road
London E9 7BT
Transport: Homerton BR, Hackney Wick BR, London Fields BR
House Ales: Falcon (3.6%), Hackney (4.3%)
T-shirt: "Falcon well buy me a Firkin pint" or
"I'm a Firkin half pint" (children's)
Notes: This is a large brewing pub, exporting beer to the Flower, Fox,
Frigate, Frog, Fusilier, Pheasant and doubtless some others.
It has a fully-featured children's room with a play area. Live
music some nights.
Name: Fallow & Firkin
Est'd: 1994 or 1995
Address: Harborne
Notes: Announced in the Firkin Club News.
Name: Farrier & Firkin
Est'd: 1993
Phone: 0171 262-1513
Address: 74-76 York St.
Marylebone, London W1H 1DP
Transport: Marylebone, Edgware Road
House Ales: Shoe Ale (3.5%), Farrier (4.3%)
T-shirt: "Hoofit down to the Farrier for a fine Firkin pint"
Notes: This is the best of the most recent (post-takeover) batch of
Firkin pubs. It's not too large, is decorated well, and keeps
its beer in very good condition.
Name: Feast & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Address: Woodhouse Moor
Leeds LS2
Notes: A converted old library, with occasional live music. Info
supplied by Gareth Freemantle.
Name: Ferret & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1983
Phone: 0171 352-6645
Address: 114 Lots Road
London SW10 0RJ
Transport: Fulham Broadway
House Ales: Balloonastic Ale (3.4%), FerreT'Ale (4.3%)
T-shirt: "Every Firkin Ferret ale has a hoppy ending!" or
"I'm a Firkin Balloonatic"
Notes: A brewing pub with the full name "The Ferret & Firkin in the
Balloon up the Creek", at one time the longest pub name in the
UK. A nice place when it isn't too crowded, but it does fill up
when there's live music.
Name: Fettler & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 0171 723-5918
Address: 15 Chilworth St.
Paddington, W2 3QU
Transport: Paddington
House Ales: Rail Ale (3.5%), Fettler (4.3%)
T-shirt: No slogan yet. As of my last visit, they were selling shirts
with the pub's logo on the front, and the "Pissed, I'm
absolutely Firkin legless" quote on the back.
Notes: Similar to the Fulmar & Firkin, but only about 2/3 the size.
The decor is better, though, almost as good as the Farrier's
horseshoes and wagon wheels.
Name: Fiddler & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1993
Phone: 0181 680-9728
Address: 14, South End
Croydon, Surrey CR0 1DL
Transport: South Croydon BR, East Croydon BR, West Croydon BR
House Ales: Shell Ale (3.5%), Fiddler (4.0%)
T-shirt: "Don't Crab my Shell, get your own Firkin Beer"
Notes: A roomy brewpub crawling with Fiddler crabs.
Name: Fielder & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 0181 642-9018
Address: 346 Sutton High Street,
Sutton, Gtr. London SM1 1PR
Transport: Sutton BR
House Ales: Maiden (3.6%), Fielder (4.3%)
T-shirt: "I'm Stumped without a Firkin Pint"
Notes: A roomy, friendly pub, based on cricketing themes. A fair
distance from Sutton station. Keeps its excellent beers in
casks. Two additional beers were available during my visit:
Balls (5.0%) was an interesting, fruity bitter, and
Helmet (5.0%) was a sweetish porter.
Name: Filly & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Address: Nottingham
Name: Finch & Firkin (brewpub)
Phone: 0151 733-2403
Address: 467 Smithdown Road
Liverpool L15 5AE
Name: Finnock & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 0171 226-3467
Address: 100 Upper St.
London, N1 0NP
Transport: Angel, Highbury & Islington
House Ales: Angel (3.5%), Finnock Ale (4.3%)
T-shirt: "Finnocks my Firkin pint over, I'll Fillet Him"
Notes: A nice split-level pub with a quiet(er) upper deck.
Name: Fitchet & Firkin
Address: Northampton
T-shirt: "Are you Fitchin' for some Firkin Pole Cat"
Name: Flamingo & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1990
Phone: 01332 45948
Address: Beckett Street
Derby DE1 1HU
T-shirt: "Flamin'go buy me a Firkin Pint"
Name: Flanker & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Address: Coventry
Notes: From the Firkin Club newsletter.
Name: Flapper & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Address: Birmingham
House Ales: Duck (presumably)
T-shirt: "Don't get in a Firkin Flap, get me a Pint of Duck"
Name: Flautist & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 0181 981-0620
Address: 588 Mile End Road
London E3 4PH
Transport: Mile End, Bow Road
Notes: A medium-sized, warm pub with a long bar. Good decorations, with
lots of brass. Very close to Mile End station.
Name: Flea & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1990
Phone: 0161 274-3682
Address: 137 Grosvenor Street
Manchester M1 7DZ
T-shirt: "I'm Itching for a Firkin Pint"
Name: Flicker & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 0181 332-7807
Address: Dukes Yard, 1 Duke Street,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 1HP
Transport: Richmond
House Ales: Pecker (3.5%), Flicker Ale (4.3%)
Notes: This brewing pub is the least proletarian of all the Firkin
pubs I've visited. The beer is expensive, but fairly good.
Name: Florikan & Firkin
Est'd: 1994 or 1995
Address: Bedminster
Notes: Announced in the Firkin Club News.
Name: Flounder & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1985
Phone: 0171 609-9574
Address: 54 Holloway Road
London N7 8JL
Transport: Highbury & Islington, Holloway Road
House Ales: Fish T'Ale (3.6%), Whale Ale (4.3%)
T-shirt: "I've Flounder great Plaice for a Firkin Pint"
Notes: An excellent brewing pub, with the brewery visible through
portholes in the floor. Recently refurbished. Popular, as well,
and even though they don't have live music, it manages to get
crowded on Saturdays.
Name: Flower & Firkin
Est'd: 1991
Phone: 0181 332-1162
Address: Kew Gardens Station
Kew, Richmond TW9 3PZ
Transport: Kew Gardens BR (pub is at station)
House Ales: Rail Ale (3.7%), Cactus Ale (4.0%)
T-shirt: "If Flower you I'd buy me a Firkin pint"
Notes: The pub has a bar area and a "conservatory", also a loud
jukebox. There are also a few tables outside, next to the
station entrance. Formerly a pub called the Pig & Parrot.
Name: Flyman & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1995
Phone: 0171 240-7109
Address: 166-170 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London WC2H 8JB
Transport: Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square, Covent Garden
House Ales: Critic'Ale (3.5%), Flyman Ale (4.3%)
T-shirt: "Buddy, Oliver 'Nother Pint of Firkin Ale, or I'm Curtain
to get Les Miserables"
Notes: A bright, medium-to-large pub with posibly the Firkin most
expensive prices in the chain. Convenient for Oxford Street.
Name: Fog & Firkin
Est'd: 1995
Address: on the Quayside, Newcastle
House Ales: Wrecker (3.8%), Fog Ale (4.5%)
Notes: Roomy conversion of what used to be the Barleymow. Excellent
interior, and there's a balcony overlooking the Tyne. Close to
21 Queen Street, the AA Restaurant of the Year 1995. Info
supplied by Timothy Moss.
Name: Font & Firkin
Est'd: 1995
Address: Brighton
Name: Fool & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Address: Gaskin Street,
Plymouth
House Ales: Fool Ale, Jester
Name: Footlights & Firkin
Est'd: 1995
Address: nr. Bread Street,
Edinburgh
Name: Forrester & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 01785 223742
Address: 3 Eastgate Street,
Stafford ST16 2NQ
Name: Fowl & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 01203 221622
Address: 1-2 The Butts,
Coventry, W.Midlands CV1 3GR
Name: Fox & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1980
Phone: 0181 690-8925
Address: 316 Lewisham High Street
London SE13 3HL
Transport: Ladywell BR, Lewisham BR, Catford BR
House Ales: Ladywell (3.5%), Fox Ale (4.0%)
T-shirt: "For Fox sake buy me a Firkin pint" or
"I don't give two Fox for any other Firkin pub"
Notes: A large pub, which brews special and seasonal ales for the
other Firkin pubs. The interior is well done, and the brewery
is easily visible through large windows. There's also a small
beer garden at the back. Ladywell BR is very convenient, but
the trains are not frequent.
Name: Friar & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1992
Phone: 0171 387-2419
Address: 120 Euston Road
London NW1
Transport: Euston, King's Cross, Euston Square
House Ales: Confession'l (3.5%), Friar (4.3%)
T-shirt: "I was just passing by and I got into the Firkin habit"
Notes: The Friar is situated halfway between Euston and King's Cross
stations, and closes at 3:30pm on Saturdays because of football
fans. It has recently been expanded, and has twice its old floor
space, and a longer bar!
Name: Friesian & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1992
Phone: 0171 622-4666
Address: 87 Rectory Grove
London SW4
Transport: Clapham Common
House Ales: Udder Ale
T-shirt: "I'll Heifer N'Udder Pint" or
"For a good Firkin tale, my bull slips into the Friesian" or
"It's Friesian outside, you start to shudder, so Jump the Herd,
and Heifer Firkin Udder"
Notes: A large, often crowded pub which caters mainly to younger
people. "
Name: Frigate & Firkin
Est'd: 1989
Phone: 0171 602-1412
Address: 24 Blythe Road
London W14
Transport: Kensington Olympia (when open), Barons Court, West Kensington
House Ales: Wingspan (3.5%), Frigate (4.3%)
T-shirt: "Don't Frigate to buy me a Firkin Pint"
Notes: A small Firkin pub hidden away behind the Olympia exhibition
halls.
Name: Frog & Firkin
Est'd: 1981
Phone: 0171 727-9250
Address: 41 Tavistock Crescent
London W11
Transport: Westbourne Park
House Ales: Frog Ale, Tavistock
T-shirt: "Frog od's sake buy me a Firkin pint"
Notes: Too small to brew its own, but the atmosphere is good, with
some special decorations (remember to check the ceiling!)
Name: Fulmar & Firkin
Est'd: 1993
Phone: 0171 405-0590
Address: 51 Parker St.
Holborn, London WC2B 5PS
Transport: Holborn
House Ales: Fulmar Ale
T-shirt: "Fulmar me up with a Firkin pint"
Notes: A medium-sized non-brewing pub in Central London. It's
usually quiet until the rush hour, when it fills up with
lager-drinking city types.
Name: Fusilier & Firkin
Est'd: 1992
Phone: 0171 485 7858
Address: 7-8 Chalk Farm Road
London NW1
Transport: Camden Town, Chalk Farm
House Ales: Musket (3.6%), Fusilier (4.3%)
T-shirt: "If your Gunner drink Firkin Ale you Musket Firkin Legless" or
"One shot of Firkin Ale and you'll never re'Fusilier another"
Notes: A roomy pub, crowded on Saturdays, just off Camden Market.
Name: Fuzzock & Firkin
Est'd: 1994
Address: Leicester
Name: Goose & Firkin
Est'd: 1979
Phone: 0171 403-3590
Address: 47-48 Borough Road
London SE1 1DR
Transport: Elephant & Castle, Borough
T-shirt: "I Gandered in the Goose and got Firkin Quackered"
Notes: The original Firkin pub. No longer brews its own ales,
unfortunately. There's a big blackboard above the bar with the
logos of some of the other Firkin pubs in coloured chalk.
Name: Phantom & Firkin (Brewpub)
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 01509 263226
Address: Leicester Road,
Loughborough, Leics. LE11 2AG
Name: Pharoah & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 0171 731-0732
Address: 88-89 Fulham High Street
London SW6
Transport: Putney Bridge
Hse Ales: Cam'Ale (3.5%), Pharoah Ale (4.3%)
T-shirt: "Pharaoh Own Sake buy me a Firkin Pint"
Notes: Big, split-level conversion of some old pool halls. One of the
largest London Firkins, bigger than the Falcon.
Name: Pheasant & Firkin
Est'd: 1981
Phone: 0171 253-7429
Address: 166 Goswell Road
London EC1
Transport: Angel, Barbican
House Ales: Barbarian, Pheasant
T-shirt: "I'm a Firkin Pheasant Plucker"
Notes: A small, usually quiet, East End pub. I visited this late on
during my Firkin Crawl, so naturally I don't remember that
much about it.
Name: Philanthropist & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 01727 847021
Address: The Old Library Building, Victoria Street
St.Albans, Herts.
House Ales: Librarian, Bookworm
T-shirt: "I'm no philanthropist, get your own Firkin Pint" or
"Don't Rome Around, Get Firkin Legless" or
"Pist, I'm Firkin Legless"
Name: Phoenix & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1984
Phone: 0171 701-8282
Address: Windsor Walk
London SE5
Transport: Denmark Hill BR (pub is at station), New Cross Gate
House Ales: Rail (3.7%), Phoenix Ale (4.0%)
T-shirt: "Phoenix my Firkin pint, I'll thump him"
Notes: Winner of the Evening Standard Pub of the Year, 1993. It
brews its own, but you can't see the brewery. The Phoenix Ale is
very good indeed. This is my favourite Firkin pub. Trains to
Denmark Hill BR leave Victoria every half hour or so.
Name: Physician & Firkin (brewpub)
Est'd: 1994
Phone: 0131 667 1816
Address: 58 Dalkeith Road,
Edinburgh, Lothian EH16 5AD
House Ales: Prescription (3.8%), Physician (4.5%)
Notes: The house ales are categorised as 70/- and 80/- respectively.
Decor typical of most modern Firkins. Info supplied by
Jim Darroch.
FIRKIN FORAYS
There are two particularly appealing routes for Firkin pub crawls in
London at present: along the Hammersmith & City line, and a foot route in
Islington. They can be joined together to cover seven of the London pubs.
Eastern Footwalk: Start at the Flounder, walk east until you get to the
Highbury & Islington station, turn down Upper Street (to the south), and
walk along it until you get to the Finnock. When you're finished there,
carry on walking south to the Pheasant. You can then go to the Barbican
station, and do the H&C Crawl.
Hammersmith & City line Crawl: Get to the Friar via Euston Square (from
Barbican if you did the Footwalk), then visit the Farrier from the
Edgware Road station. Stop at Paddington for a drink in the Fettler, and
take the train to Westbourne Park to end up at the Frog.
THE HEDGEHOG & HOGSHEAD PUBS
After selling the Firkin chain, David Bruce founded the Hedgehog & Hogshead
pubs. There are three pubs at present, two of which brew. They serve
Hogbolter (5.8%), and also have house ales. Prickletickler (7.3%) and Slay
Bells (8.0%) are winter and Christmas ales, respectively.
Name: Hedgehog & Hogshead
Phone: 0273 733660
Address: 100 Goldstone Villas
Hove, East Sussex BN3 3RX
House Ales: Brighton Breezy Bitter (4.3%)
Name: Hedgehog & Hogshead
Phone: 0703 581124
Address: 163 University Road, Highfield
Southampton, Hants SO2 1TS
House Ales: Belcher's Best Bitter (4.3%), Bob's Bootleg Bitter (5.2%)
T-shirt: "Hogswill do anything for a pint of Belcher's, there Snout
Better"
Name: Water Rat
Address: Marsh Benham (near Newbury)
Berkshire
Notes: Briefly mentioned in the Good Beer Guide, this is a
non-brewing pub owned by David Bruce.
EX-FIRKIN PUBS
These are Firkin pubs that have closed down, and one that has separated
from the chain (perhaps during one of the takeovers). All have names
that are being re-used for the newer pub openings.
Name: Flamingo & Firkin (Kingston-upon-Thames)
Now known as the Flamingo Brewery Company
Phone: 0181 541-3717
Address: 88 London Road
Kingston-upon-Thames
Transport: Kingston BR
House Ales: Fairfield Bitter (3.4%), Royal Charter (4.2%), Coronation (5.8%)
Notes: Closed as a Firkin pub, and was acquired by Saxon Inns (who also
own the Orange Brewery in Central London). The name has changed,
but little else.
Name: Fleece & Firkin (Bristol)
Address: Bristol
T-shirt: "If you want a good Flock, keep Mountain Sheep"
Notes: This pub is apparently still open, despite having separated
from the Firkin chain some time ago.
Name: Fuzzock & Firkin (London)
Est'd: 1987
Address: 77 Castle Road,
London NW1
T-shirt: "Donkey me waiting for a Firkin Pint Eeyore I might get
FuzzockAle!"
Notes: Now closed. The slogan may be recycled along with the name
for the new Fuzzock, in Leicester.
Name: Phantom & Firkin (London)
Est'd: 1987
Address: 140 Balaam Street
Plaistow, London E13
T-shirt: "I Spectre Firkin Ghoul Pint when I Ghost to the Phantom &
Firkin"
Notes: Now closed. The slogan may now be used at the new Phantom,
in Loughborough.
End of the Firkin Info-List v1.90
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