Wells & Co adds first new French sites since 2019

Wells & Co has established a niche in the market for bringing its lively English pubs to France for locals and tourists to enjoy and prides itself on offering craft beer and a great atmosphere.

These openings brings the total of Wells & Co pubs in France to 18, which already includes the Sherlock Holmes, the Starfish and the Market Tavern.

Loyal customer base​

Both newly acquired pubs have been trading for more than two decades in their own right. Each has developed its own loyal customer bases and a team of people who are experienced in delivering a top-quality service, Wells & Co said.

Wells and Co said it will maximise the new sites’ potential by leaning into the group’s English roots from the English food to the crafted beers.

The company began setting up pubs in in France in 1995 and has a presence across seven French cities.

Intent to grow in france​

Wells and Co chief operating officer Shirley Couchman said: “The acquisition of these pubs marks our first purchase in France since 2019.

“These sites represent our intent to continue developing and growing our French estate in the coming years while we simultaneously look at opportunities in our heartland in the UK, where we have 190 pubs. We look forward to seeing the success of the two pubs over the coming months.”

In February this year, Wells & Co announced it had a strong pipeline for sites in France​. 

In June 2017, Wells and Co sold its brewery on Havelock Street, Bedford, as well as most of its brands, to Marston’s and in 2020, Wells and Co built a craft brewery and taproom in Bedford called Brewpoint.