With the pure plethora of pubs dotted across the country; establishing the very best boozers of the bunch is certainly no mean feat. But look, someone’s got do it, hey? So, the ale-aficionados over at the Top 50 Gastropubs stepped up to the plate. They pub-crawled their way across Britain, leaving no pint glass or pork scratching wrapper unturned to determine – you guessed it, folks – the 50 best gastropubs. And whilst 13 lucky London locals earned themselves a seat at the table, one of them particularly piqued my interest. Because it doesn’t even serve pints. Yes, really…
The French House
Despite its name, the French House was originally opened by a German and later passed over to a Belgian. In fact, as far as I’m aware, it’s never had a French owner. It initially opened its doors as The York Minister in 1891 but during World War II, it became the unofficial headquarters of the Free French Forcers (France’s government-in-exile). Charles de Gaulle supposedly frequented the Soho spot, and it’s rumoured that he wrote one of his most famous speeches inside the West End watering hole.
The pub’s name wasn’t actually changed until 1984, when its namesake in York was damaged by a fire and cash donations were being sent to the pub instead of the church. It turns out that a fair bit of confusion had been caused over the years (with cases of wine regularly ending up at the church), and this is what eventually led to the name change.
The French House is an extremely cosy little boozer, with plenty of nooks and crannies to while away the hours. There’s an extensive wine list and a whopping 30 champagnes sold by the glass. But when it comes to beer, it’s only served by the half pint. This rule supposedly stems from a situation involving a bunch of rowdy sailors who turned their pint glasses into weapons and smashed each other over the heads with them. I mean, I’m pretty sure you could still do that with a half-pint glass (not that I’m suggesting you try it). The only day of the year on which the French House serves pints is April 1 (AKA ‘Pint Day’).
The Top 50 Gastropubs referred to the French House as its wildcard choice. Coming in at number 47 on the list, this Soho stalwart is certainly one of the most unique boozers to earnt itself a spot. It’s glamourous, it’s artsy, and it’s so very Soho. The dining room inside was opened in 1992 and an ever-changing menu of delicious dishes is now served up daily to the eclectic crowd you’ll find inside.
The French House has long attracted famous faces, from artists and actors to writers and royalty. The no pint rule isn’t the only policy in place inside, either. There’s a ‘no music, no machines, no televisions, no mobile phones’ rule, making the pub a true ‘haven for conversationalists’ (and a great place for people watching, too).
You can browse the full list of the top 50 gastropubs for 2026 here.