Wells & Co are celebrating three decades of flying the flag for the great British pub in France. They opened their first French venue, The Bombardier, in Paris, in 1995.
Sitting proudly beside the Place du Panthéon, The Bombardier quickly became a home-from-home for Parisians, expats, and students from the nearby Sorbonne university.
Alongside the freshly poured beer, The Bombardier has brought the best of British pub culture into the heart of the French capital. It offers lively weekly quizzes, the novelty of ordering food and drink ‘at the bar’, rather than waiting for table service, and the comforting sight (and smell) of a traditional English Sunday roast.
From a one-off idea grew a permanent pub in Paris, and, from there, a thriving portfolio. Today, Wells & Co operates 19 pubs across France, in cities including Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier, and Strasbourg. Each one offers the unmistakable hallmarks of an English pub: a buzzing bar, keg ales from Bedford, and a calendar of events that make pubs feel like second homes.
“We have always believed in the magic of the great British pub — the warmth, the welcome, the beer, and the sense of belonging it creates,” said Wells’ chief executive, Peter Wells.
“To be celebrating 30 years of sharing that experience in France, and to see how our pubs have been welcomed across the Channel, is something we are hugely proud of.
“Opening The Bombardier in Paris was just the beginning of our journey, and it proved that the love of a proper pint and a true pub atmosphere knows no borders.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved, both past and present, for making that journey such a success. We are excited to continue to grow and evolve our offering for all our customers, both sides of the channel.”
Paul Wells, chair at Wells & Co, added: “As a family-owned brewer and pub company, we are proud that our independence and heritage have enabled us to build something lasting in France. The past three decades show the enduring appeal of a British pub, and we are excited about what the next 30 years will bring.”
The milestone was marked in true pub fashion, with locals and regulars gathering at The Bombardier for live music, an English-themed quiz, and plenty of Bedford-brewed beer.
Members of the Wells & Co team joined customers to raise a glass, rounding off a month of celebrations that captured everything people love about the pub: good company, great atmosphere, and a shared sense of belonging.
All beers served in Wells & Co’s French pubs are brewed at their state-of-the-art Brewpoint Brewery in Bedford, which opened in 2020.
Looking ahead, the company sees further opportunities to invest in their French estate, bringing new experiences to customers while continuing to offer the unmistakable feeling of being in a quintessential English pub.
