Brasserie les Sans-Culottes

Closed brewpub
27 Endell Street WC2H 9BA (Camden)
First sold beer: December 2001
Ceased brewing: May 2003

Referred to in some sources as Brasserie Française, this was one of several early 21st century restaurant-brewpub concepts in London. It was based around a French revolutionary theme: the sans-culottes (literally ‘without breeches’, referencing the silk knee breeches favoured by the rich) were the lower class people of France in the late 18th century, many of whom became the most militant supporters of the revolution.

Despite the suspect theme, the owners took some care over the authenticity of the food and drink. Two French brewers, Gilles Petit and Frédéric Cesmé, previously at a Cherbourg brewpub, used a 6 hl kit sourced from Brazil to make unfiltered lagers and ales inspired by traditional northern and eastern French brewing, served alongside Alsatian-style food like flammekueche.

The iniative was not a success and closed after 18 months, with the kit sold to White Horse brewery in Oxfordshire. The unit has subsequently housed numerous different bar and restaurant ventures, most recently Circus.

Last updated 26 July 2022

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