The original UK chain is now defunct, but a number of pubs operate under the Firkin name in other countries.

[3] The brewery side of the chain was wound up, and in March 2001 Punch announced that the Firkin brand was to be discontinued.

[4] After several corporate restructurings, most of the Bass sites ended up in the Mitchells and Butlers pub company formed in 2003.

The format was generally The ---- and Firkin, where ---- was a word, beginning with either "F" or "Ph", which had some connection to the pub building or to the local area.

Typically the demographic ranges from parents with children during the day to an older drinking crowd in the evenings and late night.