Wells & Co celebrates 30 years of pints, pubs and people in France

Bedford, 6 October 2025 – Wells & Co is celebrating three decades of flying the flag for the great British pub in France, marking 30 years since the opening of its first French site, The Bombardier in Paris, back 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, offering 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.

Peter Wells, Chief Executive at Wells & Co, said: “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. 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 all the 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 its French estate, bringing new experiences to customers while continuing to offer the unmistakable feeling of being in a quintessential English pub.

Notes to editors:

Wells & Co. was founded in 1876 and is an independent, fifth generation, family-owned business with an estate of 180 pubs in the UK and 19 in France. In 2020, Wells & Co opened Brewpoint on Cut Throat Lane, Bedford. Much more than just a state-of-the-art brewery facility, Brewpoint is a £14m investment into the long-standing business’ future with a shop, office, pub and EV chargers - a statement of intent built on five generations of craft beer.

All 19 pubs in France are part of the Wells & Co managed house estate, alongside 26 in the UK. In 2025 alone, Wells & Co invested over €750k in refurbishments in France, including at The Houses of Parliament (Bordeaux), The Market Tavern (Bordeaux), The Jolly Sailor (La Rochelle) and The George & Dragon (Toulouse).

Wells & Co will be celebrating their 150th anniversary in 2026 with an array of staff, partner and customer activations taking place throughout the year both in the UK and France.

Additional statements:

Peter Wells – future focus

“Our French pubs are a vital part of Wells & Co’s story, and we see huge potential to keep building on that success. Investment into our existing estate is a priority, ensuring every pub feels fresh, welcoming and true to the British pub experience. At the same time, we’re always exploring new opportunities, both in France as well as in the UK, to bring our beers and our pubs to even more people.”

Paul Wells – our journey into France

“Our move into France happened naturally. We were already sending over bottled beer, and it didn’t take long to realise there was a real taste for English brews. Opening pubs felt like the next step – not just selling the beer, but building the whole British pub experience around it. From the start, French customers really took to that mix, and it’s shaped everything we’ve done there ever since.

“The opening of The Bombardier in 1995 was followed by The London Town (Toulouse) in 1999 and the Shakespeare (Montpellier). Our most recent addition to the estate was The Queen Elizabeth, which opened in 2024 in Strasbourg.”

Imagery here

Media contacts:

Jacob Prichard, Communications Lead at Wells & Co. – Jacob.Prichard@wellsandco.com / 07801 593639

Storm Communications – wellsandco@stormcom.co.uk

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