Return of De Hems – a little slice of the Netherlands in the West End
A Soho bar that prides itself on being linked to the Dutch resistance during the Second World War has reopened after an extensive makeover.
De Hems Café Bar, part of the M&B Castle brand, officially reopened this month following a significant upgrade in facilities and decoration, while keeping its traditional look and feel inside.
The bar, just off Shaftesbury Avenue in Westminster, claims the changes include “a new cosy décor that taps into the pub’s history, even more [Dutch and Belgian] beers on tap and an overall upgrade of all amenities inside.”
It was named after a Dutch seafarer named Papa de Hem, who first ran it as an oyster house before it took on its long-standing mantle as an hostelry that in more recent times proved very popular with football fans from Holland watching the national team play World Cup matches on the pub’s TV screens.
De Hems was built in 1890. It was a watering hole for Dutch sailors and was the unofficial HQ of the Dutch resistance during the Second World War.
The pub’s general manager, Ben Jones, said: “I cannot wait for everyone to come and visit De Hems again. I’m extremely pleased with the refurbishment.
“The feedback has been amazing since we reopened. We are all looking forward to more memorable days and nights in London’s best pub.”
Pictured top: A revamped De Hems (Picture: De Hems Soho)
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