My first season living in wilshire I put a lot of time in at Lacock. Believe it or not, it’s actually starting to recover quite well there and an 11 came out in autumn. Again, didn’t renew my ticket as was just getting annoyed with poachers, littering and dogs. I shouldn’t have been so grumpy and spent the summer eves up there! I follow a guy on YouTube who fishes the teme a lot - he does well for barbel - think that rivers on the up again now too!! Seems you have moved about more than me ha! France will likely be a goer - I’m also going to do a southwest road trip with the dog and rods. If there’s anything I’ve learnt from lockdown it’s get in the car and go and explore!!Twot that I am I had forgoton all about your French barbel.
Back in the 70's I used to fish the B Avon for barbel, mainly Limply Stoke and Laycock, had some good fish for the times. Also fished the upper Thames a lot, middle and lower Severn, W Avon, Wye, and spent most of the 90's and early half of 2000 on the Teme. The Teme remains my first love for barbel though I understand the barbel are not present in the numbers they were when I fished it.
Barbel fishing in France is rather different as it is pretty well all virgin water in comparison to UK river systems, rare to see another angler = no bait going in = more natural fish stocks. Easy to catch, but a 5lb fish I would class as a specimen. Basically double the weight to compare with UK sizes.