The French House
The French House is a Soho pub in London that famously serves beer strictly in half-pints and hosted General Charles de Gaulle when he drafted his World War II appeal. Founded in 1891 by a German named Christian Schmitt, it was renamed in 1984 after wine deliveries were misrouted to York Minster cathedral. Mobile phones, music, and televisions remain banned inside.
London · from the walk “Last Orders Through the Ages” · Generated
The French House, 49 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 5BG
- German national Christian Schmitt opened the pub as the York Minster at 49 Dean Street in 1891.
- General Charles de Gaulle drafted his famous World War II rally speech at The French House.
- The French House has restricted beer service exclusively to half-pints since a brawl in the 1920s.
- Gaston Berlemont was born upstairs in 1914 and managed the Soho pub until his retirement in 1989.
Why does The French House in Soho serve beer only in half-pints?
Look up at that modest blue awning... and the Tricolor flag fluttering above number forty-nine Dean Street. This is The French House — quite possibly the most eccentric pub in all of London. And for a tour about beer history, this place holds one of the most Delightful contradictions in the business.......... This pub was opened by a German national named Christian Schmitt in eighteen ninety-one, and he called it the York Minster. Nothing French about it at all. When World War One broke out, Schmitt's widow sold the pub to a Belgian — Victor Berlemont — who had moved to London in nineteen hundred. He was the First foreigner to become landlord of a British pub, and with his French accent and extravagant moustache, he lent the place a distinctly Gallic air. So... a German-founded, Belgian-run pub, in an English city, that everyone called "The French."
...... Now, the beer rule. Why on earth does this pub only serve beer in half-pints? Legend has it that back in the nineteen twenties, there was a massive punch-up between a group of French sailors, where pint glasses were smashed over each other's heads — and the no-pints rule was introduced as a result. Whether that's true or not... the tradition has stuck for a Century. Beer is famously served only in halves — a tradition that was mercifully resumed after a brief pandemic-related switch to full pints. That's right — even Covid couldn't kill the half-pint rule for long.......... And here's a fun twist: this place sells more Ricard — the French aniseed liqueur — than anywhere else in Britain. In fact, wine actually outsells beer here altogether. For a pub on a beer tour... that's rather magnificent.......... But the real magic happened during the Second World War. After the fall of France, General Charles de Gaulle escaped to London, where he formed the Free French Forces. His famous speech rallying the French people, "À tous les Français," is said to have been written right here, inside this pub. Imagine that — the fate of a nation, drafted between these walls, probably over a half-pint and a pastis.......... Victor's son, Gaston Berlemont, was actually born upstairs in nineteen fourteen, and ran the place until his retirement in nineteen eighty-nine. Gaston was known for cashing cheques even knowing they'd bounce — he was one of Soho's unofficial banks. And rowdy customers were ejected with the greatest courtesy, sometimes even supplied with taxi fare home!......... The literary legends? Brendan Behan wrote large portions of The Quare Fellow here, and Dylan Thomas once left the manuscript of Under Milk Wood under his chair. Just... left it. After one too many halves.......... And here's one more glorious detail. The pub finally changed its name officially to The French House in nineteen eighty-four, after a fire at the real York Minster cathedral. Donations meant for the cathedral started arriving at the pub... and Gaston discovered that cases of claret intended for Him had been turning up at the cathedral for years!......... Today, the house rules still ban music, machines, television, And mobile phones — making it a true haven for conversation. So if you step inside for a half-pint... put your phone away, and drink in the history instead.