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1. Bar L’Equipe ( - 2000) – You have to be really old school to remember the original bar L’Equipe. I think this was one of the original piano bars in Courchevel. Before the Jump existed this was THE bar in Courchevel for my first couple of seasons until it and the hotel Tournier, run by Skival, was knocked down in 2000 to make way for the hotel St Joseph. A great centralised bar with a large floor space including the infamous ski lift egg in the corner.

2. Hotel New Solarium (- 2004) – When it was run by Crystal the large terrace was the place to be on Wednesday with live bands and bbqs. In 2002 TUI changed the way the hotel was run. Away from English based chalet hotel to a more French run hotel.

3. Signal bar (- 2005) – Before the Hotel Le Seizena was built the signal bar was a little local bar favoured by instructors for an after work Mutzig or 3. The bar still exists, in name only, as part of the hotel.

4. Hotel La Floride (- 2006) – Based next to the piste in 1650, the Inghams run Floride took over from the New Sol as a great après terrace on Wednesdays until it was knocked down to make way for the Hotel Manali.

5. Bar L’Equipe (2004-06) – Proof that giving something an old name doesn’t always make it anything like its forbear. Formerly the Smalto restaurant, the new bar/restaurant tried to change itself almost every year of it existence. In my opinion the central bar took up far too much space leaving less room for the restaurant guests. Apart from that it was a good size, had one of the first free wifi spots in 1850, and had good pizza chefs most years. Shame it also had some whingeing locals living up stairs who constantly compained about (any) noise.

6. El Gringos ( - 2007) – Formerly Mix bar, rename El Gringos after the bar managers trip around South America in the summer. The first time I frequented Mix’s Bar (as a punter) someone had been messing around with some superglue and there was a table complete with ashtray and cigarette stuck to the ceiling. Based below the Skiworld run Auberge de Soleil chalet hotel, Gringos was a great seasonnaire bar with cheap shots and as it was slightly away from the centre of 1850 it meant less people complained about the noise. The building was demolished to make way for part of the new Padisha development.

7. TJ’s ( - 2009) Like Marmite people either loved TJs or hated it. The smallest of all the English bars in 1850. When full it could turn into abit of a sweat pit. Through out its life the walls changed colour almost every year (in an attempt to hide the cracks). Ironically it’s now been slightly expanded into the then peacock lounge and is run by Tournier family and called bar L’Equipe.

8. The Moriond Lounge (2007) – The new space bar in 1650 was a rather dark and dingy French bar, which was converted into a much nicer place to drink by Aussie Paul and Ian. Unfortunately this only lasted a year before the French took it over again and became the Funky Fox.

9. The Potinere (- 2008) – Another favourite with ski instructors was demolished in the construction of the 5* Suites de Potinere hotel.

10. Bar Le Jump – Now I know this is still around and physically it's the same as before but it has lost a little je ne sais quoi since Tim and Janie sold it. Maybe something to do with the new owners turning off the power to the sewage pump in the basement last summer.

Things I’ve learnt this week

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