French House
NileGuide Expert Says:
There are those who love it, others who hate it for its perceived cultural elite snobbery. But it is one of London's iconic pubs - give it a go!
Address:
49 Dean Street
W1V 5HL London, United Kingdom
Phone:
44 20 7437 2477
NileGuide Expert tip:
An ideal meeting place before embarking on an evening of music or clubbing in Covent Garden.
Description:
There's not a drinking man in Soho who doesn't know "The French". As a token nod to its French heritage (and some say, also as a protest against the British macho culture of swigging beer in great quantities) it is the only British pub in the country that sells beer by the half-pint; but, with good house wine and even better Brittany Cider - c'est pas de problème. There's no TV, no music, no fruit machines, no mobile phone chat (interdit!), just the craic that comes from the French's Bohemian customers. General de Gaulle made the pub his base while in exile during World War II, (hence the name). Dylan Thomas, Francis Bacon and Brendan Behan have all been regulars and former Led Zep front man Robert Plant recently said on radio that the French was his favourite bar in the world (and he's been in a good few...) Tasty restaurant upstairs.
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