In the 20th century the pub became notable for its association with the columnist Jeffrey Bernard, the staff of Private Eye magazine, other journalists and as a haunt for Soho personalities.

[2] The current building dates from the early 19th century and is Grade II listed with Historic England.

[1][3] The pub became a favourite drinking spot for the journalists of the satirical magazine Private Eye and the location of their fortnightly lunches, at which it was hoped a plentiful supply of cheap wine would prompt an indiscretion from one of the guests, such as member of parliament John Hemming's admission that he had got his mistress pregnant.

[3] Clive Jennings says of regular clientele such as Bernard that "the lethal triangle of The French, The Coach & Horses and The Colony were the staging points of the Dean Street shuffle, with occasional forays into other joints such as The Gargoyle or the Mandrake ...

[6] Norman Balon was succeeded as leaseholder in May 2006 by Alastair Choat, Greg Stewart, and Melanie Krudy.