8/10 for Le 25bis by Leclerc Briant
It was in 2017 that the champagne house Leclerc Briant got its hands on this old family home built in the 18th century by a wine merchant. At that time, the avenue de Champagne was still only a path outside the city. After a fine renovation, the 25bis has turned into a pretty guest house. The establishment is now part of "Esprit de France", a collection of hotels and residences in France which aims to bring together some happy owners around the strong common values of heritage, art and culture. You enter through a courtyard which turns into a terrace as soon as the weather arrives. A shop which presents all the Leclerc Briant cuvées acts as an anteroom to the rest of the house. Once inside the walls, you are quickly imbued with the cocoon atmosphere that emerges from this warm address.
9/10 The situation
As its name suggests, this guest house is located at 25 bis de avenue de Champagne: the ideal location for those who wish to skim the largest champagne houses aligned on this artery classified by Unesco since 2015. The town center of Épernay is perfectly accessible on foot in around ten minutes towards Place de la République.
10/10 The decor
Leclerc Briant called on the British design agency Ramsey Krause to implement the renovations to this historic home. The architectural duo has managed to preserve the soul of the place, the pine floors are intact and the Empire style moldings are still there. The walls of the dining room have been covered with wallpaper from the Alsatian manufacturer Zuber; the wooden printing plates dated 1848 evoke the trip and are classified as a "Historic Monument". Elsewhere, especially in the bedrooms, pieces of furniture from Ercol or Carl Hansen & Son counterbalance the historic weight of the place by bringing a contemporary aspect to it. In each room the balance is respected, nothing swears, everything comes together in perfect harmony.
»IN PICTURES - Visit of the 25bis by Leclerc Briant
9/10 The rooms
The house has five bedrooms and each has its own decor and character. Ours, number 4, is located under the roof. This long attic is oriented towards the Avenue de Champagne which is overlooked from a window that lets in a lot of light. A velux window also makes it possible to light the living space composed of a large light gray sofa, a pretty armchair of a close tone and a small desk of old wood. The bed, placed in the middle of the room, adjoins the white marble bathroom. Among the other rooms, n ° 3 caught our eye, with its two large Louis XIV shepherdesses of a bright March yellow and its double library where dozens of works from the White Collection of Gallimard editions are aligned . The comfort is there, the charm too.
6/10 Service, equipment
No particular equipment is available in this guest house, except a parking (free and secure) located below, at the foot of the garden. It is reached by an adjacent street. Going down to 25bis, however, you benefit from the ease of visiting the Leclerc Briant house. The winery and cellars are located at the foot of the vines, on the heights, west of Épernay.
7/10 At the table and at the bar
On request, the 25bis by Leclerc Briant can host meals. A home chef then moves to prepare a meal that can range from two to fourteen guests. You can taste the dishes prepared in the large room devoted to gastronomy. This is where breakfasts are also taken.
8/10 Value for money
The prices are certainly above the average of the more “classic” guesthouses in the region, but nothing alarming for such a beautiful house located on such an avenue. From € 225 per night (in a double room) with breakfast between November and March. From 280 € in summer.
25bis by Leclerc Briant, 25 avenue de Champagne, 51200 Épernay. Phone: 03 26 56 40 70.
