But the firm has since become entangled in a wrangle with Norwich City after being accused by the club of using its registered trademarks on bottles of lemon gin.

Bullards' owner Russell Evans and family shareholder John G Bullard, great-great-grandson of founder Richard Bullard, say their 'Norwich City lemon gin' is a reference to the city rather than the football club, and its yellow and green bottles are the colours of a lemon, the gin's flavour.

The sour dispute is now expected to end up in court, costing both companies thousands.

Bullards' owner Russell Evans and family shareholder John G Bullard, great-great-grandson of founder Richard Bullard (Image: Archant 2021)

The number of oppositions to trademark applications in the UK has risen significantly in recent years, with almost 7,000 filed against firms last year.

The threat of legal action from vulture-like lawyers acting for large corporate companies has never been greater for small firms.

“We don’t want to fight with anybody, but the city of Norwich is far bigger than just the football club,” said John Bullard, whose great-great-grandfather founded Bullards in 1837.

John G Bullard, family shareholder and great-great-grandson of founder Richard Bullard (Image: Archant 2021)

“This kind of aggressive practice by lawyers within large corporates is an unattractive side of globalisation, designed to terrify small and medium-sized business owners into submission.

"They are rewarded for being bullies. If we want an entrepreneurial society, it’s high time that we fight back.

“In my view, it’s Davos Man taken to its extreme - big corporates who will kill everything.”

Bullards family shareholder John G Bullard, great-great-grandson of founder Richard Bullard, and company owner Russell Evans, outside their Tipsy Anchor bar in Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Norwich City claims Bullards continued to use its registered trademarks on gin bottles after the gin company pulled out of a........

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