FRANCE

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LILLE

While France is more famous for wine than beer, the Northern part of France has more of a tradition for drinking beer. Lille is now a busy, well-connected town thanks to being a stop on the Eurostar line to Brussels and Paris and is only two hours from London.

Lille is well worth a day trip, with some interesting pubs including two home brew pubs.

Au Bureau, 34/36 Place de la Gare

au

Best pub yet, with very pretty tables, good fast service, and a good selection of food. Even does cocktails! Sectioned-off seating areas, nice unusual fish tank on bar. Music a little 'heavy' but generally a very nice café.

Sue 9.5/10 visit June 2001.

A French version of an English pub, which doesn't come out too bad. Au Bureau is a chain of pubs all a little like this one. Nice leather seats, wood panelling, fish tank on the bar and big TV screens showing MTV. A good menu of beers from around the world.

John 8/10 visit June 2001

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Bar de l'Echo,( English Pub ) 20 avenue Charles de Gaulle

An English style pub on the first floor which actually looks English. Very relaxed atmosphere and good service, Grimbergen beer very nice. Large sports screen-would be good for football!! Wrought-iron tables and red leather upholstery.

Sue 8.5/10 visit June 2001

Downstairs bar was crowded, but there was room in the upstairs bar. Nice wood panelling seating along the side and etched glass windows. Good range of beers on the menu-mainly Belgian, as well as some snacks.

John 8/10 visit June 2001

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La Palais de la Biere, 14 Place de la Gare

lepalis

Attractive street café with tables outside. Loudish music. Pretty plants outside and inside. Friendly service-and nice ladies toilet!

Sue 8.5/10 visit June 2001

Place de la Gare is mainly full of up market tourist places; this place is a little more basic but with a good selection of Belgian bottled and Heineken. Various beer memorabilia around the pub. Prices are reasonable.

John 8/10 visit June 2001

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La Traverne Flamande, 15 Place de la Gare,

latav

Attractive pub with brick walls softened by comfortable green upholstery and pretty plants. Wooden bar area and tables with semi-circular seating. Collection of bottled beers on display, including a huge bottle of Kriek! Roof vaulted in unusual style.

Sue 8.5/10 visit June 2001

Nice pub with bare brick-work ,seating along the side and dim lighting, making it atmospheric. An unusual ceiling which is a little hard to explain. Good choice of international beers. Nice wicker-type chairs, and a fair amount of seating out the front.

John 9/10 visit June 2001

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Taverne de L'Ecu, 9 rue Esquermoise

tavede

Very impressed with this huge bar, although it has rather a sordid past as a hangout for prostitutes and a blue movie cinema. Home-brew pub with large downstairs bar and upstairs area with original cinema curtain. Wooden pillars with dried hops support upper gallery. House blonde beer good.

Sue 9/10 visit June 2001

Home brew pub which, unlike the 3 Brasseurs, allows you to drink their beers in a drinking area. A nice place which has some nice brewery mirrors as you walk in on the left hand side, and lots of wood panelling, giving it an airy relaxing atmosphere. Beers were nice too.

John 9.5/10 visit June 2001

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Café La Terrasse, rue du Molinet

Laid-back, relaxed atmosphere in this café, which is off the beaten track. Loburg beer very nice. Lovely painting of poppies on wall, and nice collection of malt whisky cases and bottles. Friendly service.

Sue 8/10 visit June 2001

Interesting locals place, if a little basic, with three Belgium beers on draught. Nice Van Gough type paintings above the bar and empty Scotch malt whisky cases.

John7.5/10 visit June 2001

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Les 3 Brasseurs, 22 Place de la Gare

les3

Rather a cold pub, where we were told to sit at the bar if not eating! Had a palette with four small glasses of each beer brewed. Could see the brewer at work! Service rather slow. Décor in dark wood.

Sue 7.5/10 visit June 2001

Home brew pub which seems more interested in its food than its beer. Wood panelling and dim lighting gives the place a little atmosphere. Brewing vessels can be seen from the bar. If visiting try the palette-a sample of the beers.

John 7.5/10 visit June 2001

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Café Jenlain, 43 Place Rihour

Was closed for decoration when we visited; it sells beers from the local Duyck brewery, and comes recommended from people I know.

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PARIS
While Paris is more famous for its food and wine, there are a few places worth visiting for a drink, but at a price-beer was almost £3-50 to £4-00 a pint when I visited

 

1er Arrondissement

La Traverne Des Rubens, 12 Rue St-Denis,

A nice place with some good beers on offer. Good relaxing atmosphere and service. Red British phone box on your way down to the toilets.

John 7.5/10 visit May 1999

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Au Trappiste, 4 Rue St Denis

autrap

As you might expect, this café has a lot of Belgian beers, as well as some interesting French ones , albeit at a price. Nice décor and a good food menu. Good pub sign outside.

John 7.5/10 visit May 1999

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The Frog and Rosbif, 112 Rue St-Denis

thefrog

Home brew pub from the Paris real ale brewery. The pub and the beers are excellent; décor is a little like an old Firkin pub. Very crowded when I visited, with a mixed clientele. The name of the pub comes from the nicknames the English and French call each other.

John 9/10 visit May 1999

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Les Sous-Bock Travern, 49 Rue St Honore

Pub with a long narrow bar, which is open 24 hours. A good choice of beers from around the world, even if it's well-known international breweries( like Bud and Fosters ). Lots of TV screens showing MTV.

John 8/10 visit May 1999

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2e Arrondissement

Manneken-Pis, 4 Rue Daunou

2e

While the beer range is not great, this place is very atmospheric, with a nice cosy feel. Wood-panelling around the walls, with pictures of old jazz and movie stars. Make sure you visit the downstairs bar area.

John 9/10 visit May 1999

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6e Arrondissement

Pub St-Germain Des Pres, 17 Rue de L'Ancienne Comedie

When you go into this place it feels more like a restaurant than a pub, but after you sit and look at the menu you will find a good beer list. Nice wood-panelling and pictures on the wall.

John 8/10 visit May 1999

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10e Arrondissement

Café Concert Falstaff, 15 Rue De Dunkerque

Café near to Gare du Nord Eurostar station. A good range of French and overseas beers. Large place with lots of different places to sit, but can still get crowded. Good food menu especially if you like ice cream.

John 8/10 visit May 1999

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