In the post-war years, long before it was the humming commercial and tourism centre that it is today, Soho was the epicentre of bohemian life in London, with its proximity to the West End and countless underground bars making it the perfect place for artists of all stripes to socialise.
While much of this social scene has been lost in the transformation of the area in recent years, there are still some throwback institutions going just as strong as ever, and few are as celebrated as the iconic French House on Dean Street.
Originally named the York Minster, the pub was known to regulars as the French House informally, with this name eventually sticking and becoming official. During the First World War, it was bought by Belgian Victor Berlemont whose son Gaston would go on to run the pub until 1989.
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During that time the pub became a favourite in the area, serving beers in half pint glasses (except on April 1) and selling more of the French pastis spirit Ricard than anywhere else in the country.
Walking into the pub you'll quickly notice pictures of the former landlord Gaston all over the place, with famous regulars under his tenure including Charles De Gaulle, Francis Bacon, Tom Baker, and Lucian Freud.
It's easy to see what kept them all coming back as well, with an eclectic decor which sees news-clippings, artworks, photographs and paintings of regulars as well as current and former staff, and splashes of different colours adorning most of the walls.
Phones are banned in the French House too, so above everything else those who keep returning do so for the conversation and personable vibe.
One of those regulars is John Brian. Sitting at the bar reading a book with a glass of wine he tells MyLondon: "I've been coming since I was a student. I've always tended to live and work around here.
"I moved elsewhere at one point so I didn't come for years, but when I did come back it hadn't changed a bit. Sometimes you'll come in and there'll be a new member of staff but they already know what your usual is."
He added: "You can get a nice glass of wine for a very reasonable price compared to the rest around here and its a nice place that has real history."
Even more fancy quirks are reserved for the more famous among the French House's drinkers, with one well-known former actress even having her own glass held in reserve for when she stops by for a tipple - the pub insists on keeping the star anonymous.
This work ethic and personal touch is exactly what the latest custodian of the French House, landlady Lesley Lewis, points to. She tells MyLondon the reason the pub remains so loved is 'because we work very hard to make it that way'.
She added: "People come for good drink and conversation. It's not like one of those pubs where nobody talks to anyone, generally speaking, our customers are great fans of the arts, we don't have a TV and we don't show sports or play music.
"It's a friendly place and you get all sorts of people from all ages who hopefully feel comfortable and able to chat. The restaurant is also 41 out of the best 100 restaurants in the UK so that draws in its own quite different clientele."
This introduces the second floor of the French House, a gourmet French-inspired restaurant with an exclusive spread of just six tables decked in traditional white tablecloths serving an ever-changing menu of delicious food that led Guardian food critic Grace Dent to declare 'Soho isn’t over'.
Stepping inside the second-floor restaurant which is playfully signposted on the pubs stairs as the 'upstairs bar', you feel almost transported back in time to a simpler era of classy yet simple dining. A single sharply dressed waiter can be heard rattling through the days menu while behind the restaurant bar sits a treasure trove of wine.
Filing back downstairs to get another look at the main bar the pub has already started filling up as we near midday on a weekday. It's clear this is one Soho institution that won't be disappearing anytime soon.
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