CAREER HIGHLIGHTS – EXECUTIVE AND NON-EXECUTIVE

2016 – August 2023:

Co-Founder and Chairman – The Summit (City) Pub Co. Ltd
Co-Founder and Chairman – The Phoenix (City) Pub Co. Ltd
Co-Founder and Chairman – The Liberty (City) Pub Co. Ltd
Three pub companies funded under the Enterprise Investment Scheme via The City Pub EIS Fund. The 19 pubs (June 2023)  trade under the generic brand name of Mosaic Pub & Dining (www.mosaicpubanddining.com).

2015 - June 2023:
Co-Founder and Chairman – The Sovereign (City) Pub Co. Ltd
Co-Founder and Chairman – The Galaxy (City) Pub Co. Ltd
Co-Founder and Chairman – The Pioneer (City) Pub Co. Ltd
Three pub companies funded under the Enterprise Investment Scheme via The City Pub EIS Fund. The 9 pubs were sold to The City Pub Group PLC on 26th June 2023 (www.mosaicpubanddining.com).

2013 - 2021:
Non-Executive Chairman - The West Berkshire Brewery PLC (www.wbbrew.com)
David was appointed Non-Executive Chairman in March 2013, after which the Company invested in a new, state-of-the-art, 68,000 ft² Brewery complete with bottling, canning and kegging facilities, together with a 200-capacity Taproom. The business was sold in December 2021 to The Yattendon Brewing Company Ltd and now trades as the Renegade Brewery.

2014 - 2018:
Co-Founder and Senior Independent Director – The City Pub Company (East) PLC and The City Pub Company (West) PLC. 

See below:

2011 - 2014:
Co-Founder and Chairman – The City Pub Company (East) PLC and The City Pub Company (West) PLC.

Two business start-ups which raised between them over £28m. under the Enterprise Investment Scheme.  Following their merger in October 2017, they became The City Pub Group PLC (www.citypubcompany.com) which was admitted to the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market in November 2017, owning 52 free houses (June 2023).

2006 – Present:
Co-Founder and Chairman - Cobbs Farm Co. Ltd

previously known as The Country Food & Dining Co. Ltd (www.cobbsfarmshop.co.uk), a business start-up funded under the Enterprise Investment Scheme now owns 5 farm shops.

Alder Ridge Vineyard (www.alderridge.co.uk) was started in 2011 when 4,500 Pinot Noir and 1,500 Chardonnay vines were planted at Cobbs Farm Shop near Hungerford. In 2013, 2 acres of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Précoce vines were also planted. Since then, several prestigious awards have been won:

•        Alder Ridge Blanc de Noirs 2013: 
 Silver at the International Wine Challenge 2016;

        Best in Class at The Champagne & Sparkline Wine World Championships 2017   
 Gold at The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships 2017.

•        Alder Ridge Classic Cuvée 2013: 
Silver at The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships 2017

 
The vineyard and surrounding land was sold in 2023 to Highweald Wines Ltd (www.highwealdwine.com) who have subsequently planted 40 acres of Chardonnay vines.

2004 - 2012:
Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director - Convivial London Pubs PLC

A business start-up which raised £15m. under the Enterprise Investment Scheme and sold its eight, primarily freehold, free houses in London in 2014.

2008 - 2011:
Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director - The Capital Pub Company PLC.

2003 – Present:

The Burlington Arms Pub Co Ltd (www.burlingtonarms.com)

Non-executive director of the Company which owns the freehold of The Burlington Arms (www.burlingtonarms.com) in Mayfair, London.

1998-2000:
Founder and Chief Executive - Honeypot Inns PLC. 
A joint venture start-up between David Bruce’s private investment company, Brew Securities Ltd., and Brakspear’s Brewery of Henley-on-Thames. Developed a new group of managed pubs before Brakspear’s purchased Brew Securities' 50% shareholding after 2 years trading.

1995-1998:
Marketing and Development Director - The Wynkoop Brewery, Denver, Colorado, USA. (www.wynkoop.com)

1994-2006:
Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director - The Paris Real Ale Brewery S.A. 

(now Frogpubs Paris, www.frogpubs.com

1993-1997:
Marketing and Development Director - Grosvenor Inns PLC – a fully-listed company on the London Stock Exchange. Responsible for the national roll-out of The Slug & Lettuce chain of branded bars.

In 1996 Grosvenor Inns won the accolade “Best Independent Pub Operator” at The Publican Awards.

1990’s:

Co-founder and investor in:

•                 The Paris Real Ale Brewery and The Frog & Rosbif pubs in France (www.frogpubs.com)

•                 The Brooklyn Brewery in New York City (www.brooklynbrewery.com)

•                 The Phantom Canyon Brewery in Colorado Springs (www.phantomcanyon.com)

•                 Wynkoop Brewery in Denver, Colorado (www.wynkoop.com)

•                 Brew Moon in Boston, Mass

•                 Elysian Brewery in Seattle (www.elysianbrewing.com)

1980:

Co-founder of the Small Independent Brewers Association (now the Society of Independent Brewers) www.siba.co.uk

Founder of Bruce’s Brewery and the Firkin chain of pubs which were sold in 1988 for £6.6m to Allied Domecq International, subsequently becoming their largest retail brand. Provided consultancy services and invested in new business start-ups in the international brewing industry from Paris to Seattle via New York and Denver.

1966-1978:
Early career included 6 years brewing with both Courage, Barclay & Simonds Ltd and Theakston’s Brewery followed by 6 years licensed retailing with Charram Ltd and The Star Group of Companies.