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Chat about:
10th Anniversary Pub Crawl in Birmingham with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Friday, 14th February 2020
With picture contributions to 7261 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (17 more images)
Detail Pages
The French House, Soho, W1
W1
W1D 5BG
Served areas
Reviews of The French House (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The French House
So much has been written about this place that you can only add bullet points...
1) 1840s pub - losing its frontage to a doodlebug
2) Charles de Gaulle formed the French Free Government from upstairs
3) Dylan Thomas got pissed here and left the only typescript for Under Milk Wood under a bench
4) One of the unholy trinity of three pre all day opening drinking dens - including the Coach and Horses and the Colony Room
In a break from tradition - you can now order pints at the bar without being laughed at for being a tourits.
In these (semi) post covid lockdown times, they are trying to limit the number of visits to the bar.
A must visit london pub.
On 26th July 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 818 recommendations about 810 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The French House
This is another pub dating back to at least the early 19th century, but I suspect that this is a rebuild from the 1930s. It was the York Minster until the current name was applied in 1984, on account of it being a meeting place for the Free French Forces along with Charles de Gaulle, bravely fighting the Nazi occupation of France from his home in Hampstead.
I came here once before in March 1990 and I seem to recall that my friend was served a drink with a microscopic fish in it!
The pub is notable for serving halves rather than pints as a pint is not a French measure. Well I've got news here, 'cos a half ain't a French measure either, mon ami. As mentioned, you do see some characters in here, trying to look like Bohemian beatniks of old with many drinking wine. Early Monday evening and the place was absolutely packed to the point where it was hard to move; seating is limited at best.
Ales: none, not even on keg so I had to settle for a compulsory half of Camden Pale Ale.
This is a place of curiosity only and really not a relaxing experience, exuding a certain je ne sais porquoi. The lack of real ale, lack of proper glasses and lack of space means I doubt I'll come back - je ne regrette rien.
On 1st May 2019
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1159 recommendations about 1138 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The French House
Popped in here on Tuesday Eve as weekends can be hectic. The pub was still moderately busy even at 6.30. Still service was good and vertical drinking over by the front windows was fine as we could still had a good view of the interior and the feature wall of photos of some of the stars of yesteryear. Disappointingly no cask beer, but they did have a couple of choices from Camden Brewery on keg, so we went for a couple of halves. Curiosity of the pub interior satisfied, so it was on to the Lyric for a pint of cask.
On 9th November 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3010 recommendations about 3010 pubs]
View more reviews of The French House (10)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of The French House - www.frenchhousesoho.com
- Randomness Guide to London - French House entry
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The French House - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
London Waterloo, 1.41 miles, 27 min walk (show)
London Euston, 1.48 miles, 28 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No - Banned. - last updated 23 August 2016 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No - Banned. - last updated 23 August 2016 by Tris C
- Live Music : No - Banned. - last updated 23 August 2016 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No - Banned. - last updated 23 August 2016 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No - Banned. - last updated 23 August 2016 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 02 August 2015 by Pub SignMan
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
- WiFi : No last updated 19 February 2016 by Quinno _
