The Harp was opened in early 2004 by a Viking called Nils, who had after many long years in the Paris pub scene decided that it was time to do his own thing.

He had started in Chesterfield Café (now called Charly Birdy) back in 1998 but soon got offered a managing position in a new bar that was to open called Le Mazet, after a year there another offer appeared, this time from a neighbor pub called Corcoran's St Michel.

They were opening a new pub and needed someone who knew alcohols and cocktails (aye, a Swede), Corcoran's Clichy became the busiest pub in Paris and Nils stayed there for three years.

Then a sister pub was in desperate need of a manager and he was offered the job. He stayed in the Ballyroan (now called Corcoran's Sacre Cour) for a year and a half.

After a failed attempt at a restaurant in the St Michel area, he and Mr Porisse got talking about Jack's bar.

The bar with is the harp has been known by many names, Le Derby, Bacchus Tavern, Jack's.

It was called Bacchus when Nils old boss Mr Porisse bought it and made it in to Jack's. Jack's was meant to be a cocktail bar with a twist and was run by Md Porisse, Angie, she however got pregnant ( twice ) and could obviously not work all the time so Mr Porisse decided to sell to Nils who had worked for the family for several years.

However he did not have much money to invest or cover all the loans, so Mr Porisse , the Brewery Kronenbourg and their distributor Elidis all helped him with the task, Mr Porisse with the price, the brewery with backing the loans and the distributor with scheduled payments. It is not every day something like that happens!

The bar was then rebuilt, refurnished, decorated and finally crowned home of the French Celtic supporters club in Paris.