The Olive Branch was the first pub
we ever went into in Canterbury, way back on New Year’s Eve 1993. Quite a smart
pub, but retaining a traditional charm. It was also the first pub in Canterbury to fall
beneath the might of the new chain pubs. The interior didn't change much when it became the Franklin and Firkin, except, of course, all those jokes appeared.
The Franklin & Firkin was a Firkin chain pub, although a bit smaller than most of the others. As with all Firkin pubs, it had those 'firkin' crap jokes along with a 'Firkin & Phonograph' (jukebox to you and I). The 'Franklin', by the way, is a character from Chaucer's Tales,
who was picked for this pub simply because his name begins with a 'f', as this
particualr pub chain's branding required.
The Firkin was a decent enough pub, popular with young people, and earlier on boasting it’s own real ales. Dark wooden walls and floor,
in fact much more like a proper pub than it is now as the Old Buttermarket.
When Bass (later called Six Continents Retail and now Mitchells & Butler) took over most of the Firkin pubs from Allied Domecq in the late-90s they didn't acquire the Firkin name - as a result
these Firkin pubs were rebranded, hence the name change to the Old Buttermarket. It was refurbished at the same time, and instantaneously lost its appeal to the young people who made it a success. Still, that's progress.
There is still the odd Firkin pub around the country, but usually because
they're dying pubs that the owners can't justify doing up. |
