Two of Soho’s most iconic and best-loved bars need your help

As the UK enters its seventh week of lockdown, the future looks increasingly uncertain for pubs, clubs, and venues, which have had to indefinitely shut their doors amid the coronavirus crisis. Two London bars concerned about what will happen once the pandemic is over are Soho’s The French House and Trisha’s, both of which have set up fundraisers in an attempt to reopen once life returns to normal.

Established over 100 years ago, The French House locals have included Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and Malcolm Lowry, while former president of France, Charles de Gaulle, is said to have written his famous “À tous les Français” speech in the upstairs bar, back in 1940. Sylvia Plath is also said to have visited.

Described on its GoFundMe page as “Soho’s village pub”, The French House is hoping to raise £80,000 to cover the cost of rent, enabling the bar to reopen when the government allows. Known primarily for its wine, champagne, and Cidre Breton, the bar famously only serves half pints – except on April Fool’s Day – but asserts that once it reopens for “some great parties, pints might even be served”.

“In these difficult and uncertain times, and until life gets back to normal for us all, The French House is looking to its friends, its fans, and its family for help,” reads the petition. “The French means so much to all of us. It’s not just an important piece of Soho history, it’s a resource for an entire community, as well as being amongst the last bastions of old Soho.”

Soho’s oldest club Trisha’s – AKA New Evaristo Club – is also turning to the public for support. A place of “hedonistic community spirit for 78 years and counting”, Trisha’s is asking for £20,000 worth of donations in order to reopen after the pandemic. “The club is totally independent and funded from (owner Trish Bergonzi’s) pocket,” bartender Tracy Kawalik tells Dazed. “The booze is bought at the beginning of the week, and the rent, band, doorman, and bartenders are all paid from the night’s takings.”

She continues: “A place like Trisha’s doesn’t even thrive from week-to-week. It’s night-to-night, and right now, she’s looking at rent month-to-month that is due with nothing coming in at all.”

“You should save us because the club is some of the last little bit of original Soho there is” – Trish Bergonzi, owner of Trisha’s

Famous for its life membership fee and cheap drinks, Trisha’s boasts the likes of Led Zeppelin, Anthony Bourdain, and Mark Ronson as past visitors. Bourdain famously took Marco Pierre White to Trisha’s in the London episode of his TV series, The Layover, telling the British chef: “There is no finer establishment.”

Kawalik adds that Bergonzi – who’s been in charge of the bar for four decades – once told Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page to “fuck off” after he asked her to make him a cheese toastie on a heaving Friday night. “The following Monday, the band’s manager came back in and reminded Trish what had happened,” says Kawalik. “She had no clue who they were and apologised immediately, to which their manager said: ‘Jimmy was made up. No one’s ever told him to fuck off in Soho before’.”

When asked why Trisha’s is worth saving, Bergonzi said: “You should save us because the club is some of the last little bit of original Soho there is. Everyone is welcome at my club, all my customers are lovely people, and it has always been a safe space. We’ve always been the type of club where you could come and have a drink on their own, and meet a new set of fabulous characters by the end of the night, or just enjoy the band and a drink.” Kawalik agrees, asserting that Trisha’s is “full of characters and fucking charm”.

“People say that if you can remember the 60s, you were never really there,” she continues, “and for the most part, if you can remember where the door is, a night at Trisha’s is pretty much the same. Everyone who works and performs at Trisha’s has carved out their own legacy within Soho’s nightlife, and our main aim is to get the club back up and running so we can continue doing so.” 

Donate to The French House’s fundraiser here, and Trisha’s here.