The French Horn hotel

The French Horn has a long and illustrious history spanning 200 years of hospitality, from 19th century coaching inn right up to its current incarnation as luxury restaurant with rooms.

Good food is a passion that has been passed down through many generations of the family. Originally from Whitstable in Kent, the family’s great-grandfather and grandfather (Bernard Walsh) were both oystermen. Bernard later moved to London and created a famous fish restaurant, Wheelers, which grew to include a number of venues throughout the city. Bernard’s daughter Carole, who had trained in Paris and then Vienne at the world famous ‘La Pyramide’, married Ronnie Emmanuel, who then took over the running of Wheelers while Carole bought The French Horn in 1972.

The French Horn is now run, under the watchful eyes of Carole and Ronnie, by their children Michael and Elaine. Prior to taking the reigns at The French Horn, Michael trained in Lyon under Paul Bocuse and in Mougins under Roger Verge, before opening a London restaurant with Elaine which earned a prestigious Michelin star.