The French House

Photos and First Impressions

Streetside View

The Bar

From my Stool in the Back Corner

Chronicling from the Barstool

 

I must admit, this is the last thing I expected to see in the heart of Soho, but there it is. A pub in central London ostensibly celebrating the French. Feels like a bit of a surrender…

 

This pub’s only been around since the late 1800s, so I’m breaking my rule considering “historic” as predating the U.S., but the back story on this place was too enticing to pass up. It was actually a German national who opened the pub in 1891. He called it the York Minster, a proper English name. After his death in 1911 and the outbreak of World War I a few years later, his wife had to sell. It was purchased by Victor Berlemont, a proud…Belgian? Yep. Belgian.

 

The French connection wasn’t established in earnest until the fall of Paris in 1941. Charles de Gaulle was a regular during his exile and allegedly drafted several speeches to the Free French Forces from the pub. Around that time, regulars began to colloquially refer to it by its current name, though the change wasn’t official until 1984, when it was lumped in with a larger restoration effort following a damaging fire.

 

In its time, the pub has fancied itself a cultural hub for artists and members of the literati, most notably Brendan Behan, Lucian Freud, Dylan Thomas, and Francis Bacon.

 

As for the current experience, it’s hectic. The pub is very small, so you’re either crammed inside like sardines or spilling over into the street. It’s exciting, but overwhelming. Also, the drink situation isn’t exactly my style. They have over 30 wines available by the glass, but I’m not classy enough for that. Also, in violation of what I assume to be English law, they only serve half pints—except for one day a year each spring, when you can get a full pour as part of a fundraiser.

 

Also in the pub’s founding year of 1891…

• Victoria rules Britain.
• Soccer establishes penalty spot kick rule.
• Cy Young records first career win as pitcher for the Cleveland Spiders.
• In Springfield, Massachusetts, James Naismith’s students play the first game of basketball.
• Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde premiers in New York.
• Telephone connection between London and Paris opens.
• Thomas Edison patents his motion picture camera.
• American Express issues the world’s first traveler’s checks.
• Stanford University welcomes its first students.

On Draught

 

French House Lager

French House

4% ABV

 

Gotta say, bonus points for having your own brew. This one made me a bit homesick too, as to my pallet, it’s indistinguishable from Bloomington Brewing Co.’s Kirkwood Cream Ale.