pub comments# beerintheevening.com

skip nav

Fox, Old Street

back to pub details

user reviews of the Fox, Old Street

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

A perfectly acceptable place to stop off for a cheeky afternoon pint, as I did, but I can't say the interior would inspire me to hurry back. The usual wood throughout and rickety furniture suggest a fairly recent renovation trying to look old, and not doing it very well. The pint of Best was horrible but I think that was more a duff choice than anything wrong with it. Not a place to avoid, not a place to recommend.

Report this for removal

cid - 9 Jan 2012 09:25

Doombar, Harveys Sussex and Otter (sometimes) ....all good.
Pub often packed by all the local workers who don't fancy paying even more inflated prices at the Windmill or happy hour rates at the Old Kings Head or Watermark...

Report this for removal

mark1208 - 19 Dec 2011 16:07

There are few vestiges of its original pub character remaining, such as the cast iron pillars for example. I�m not sure about the cut and etched glass windows � if they are modern reproductions they are pretty good ones. A bare-boarded floor, wooden tables and chairs with no padding � there�s nothing soft and warm about this place. The champagne bucket and basket of lemons on the bar give the game away. Harvey�s Bitter at �3.40 a pint is also a clue (they also had Pedigree on) � it�s a gastro-pub. The only d�cor on the walls seem to be chalkboards advertising the wine lists and bar menu, plus some sort of mural depicting a bloke sitting in a chair having a fag with a dog tethered in the doorway. The pub�s typical of the breed. It�s not the sort of place that I feel comfortable just sitting having a pint.

Report this for removal

RexRattus - 10 Dec 2009 15:56

If you're ever caught short in the no-man's land between Old St and Broadgate then it's well worth draining your weasel here. You won't find a lovelier set of clean, pine-scented bogs in London.

Report this for removal

DonnyOddlegs - 22 Jul 2009 14:36

Passable pub in poverty stricken area for beer. It serves Harvey's and Pedigree, or did last week. Unusual in having a traditional style central bar which you can walk all the way around. Not sure how old the bar is. There is an upstairs as well, set aside for certain persons when we were there. The interior is very much a storehouse for cheap wood. Not altogether bad. The Artillery Arms is too close to make this worthwhile though.

Report this for removal

BitterShurn - 5 Jul 2009 19:24

Spartan "stripped pine" sort of place in the maze of streets between Broadgate and Old St.

I suspect the Fox is not somewhere that gets much passing trade but gleans much of its clientele from the slightly shabby 60s and 70s offices that occupy much of this area.

I've drunk in here a couple of times in the evening and it's never been really crowded. I will say I've worked less than 5 mins walk from this pub for more than 5 years and wasn't aware of its existence until about 8 months ago so I suspect it would benefit from a bit of publicity.

Ok but nothing exceptional here

Report this for removal

murgatroyd - 21 Jun 2009 20:48

Agree with Somerset Crris on thsi place. �6.00 for two pints. Hooky Bitter & Sussex on . Foody pub selling olives as bar snacks. Nuff said

Report this for removal

TheHorsesMouth - 13 May 2009 17:49

Beer was very good with 2 ales on tap. Nice atmosphere and comfortable. But why are they charging gastropub prices for pub snacks? If they charged realistic prices for the food this would be a very highly rated pub.

If you want a pint, recommended, if you want food, look elsewhere.

Report this for removal

SomersetChris - 26 Mar 2009 20:15

Was treated like dirt on a Friday night. Had to practically beg to get a pint of Fosters for crying out loud. Can't think of a single reason to return.

Report this for removal

Dave_R - 11 Aug 2008 12:46

Best pub in (near) the City. Good bar snacks and can get served quickly even on Friday night after work!

Report this for removal

windass50 - 2 Jul 2008 00:10

Good refurb. Staff have all changed now and are a lot better than the old lot that hated serving people!

Worth a visit, even if just to get rid of the old memories.

Deuchars IPA and Bombardier on

Report this for removal

SJohnson - 25 Jan 2008 15:08

Fox shut a couple of weeks ago, owner sold up and it is being re-furbished into a.n.other gastro pub .... don't know when it is supposed to re-open.

Report this for removal

mark1208 - 10 Oct 2006 10:15

I swear I saw Nathan Barley is this gaff once. Or maybe it was an ironic pastiche. A parody of a parody perhaps??

In any case, like many of local bars, this place is populated by the type of mullet-haired, pointy white shoed, skinny jean wearing pr*cks that have infested the area.

People- why do we tolerate staff this bad?? When did we forget we pay these people wages??

Report this for removal

anonymous - 15 Aug 2006 17:47

yes, tis true about the staff attitude. "Oh not you again - another pint???? But I'm talking........." At first I found it mildly amusing watching "too-cool-for-school" ego's getting their out-of-bed hair just right, but then it stopped being amusing. I won't be back.

Report this for removal

anonymous - 15 Aug 2006 17:02

I went here after hearing that it was a nice pub with great food. My friend and I were only in for a couple of beers, but then got hungry. We only wanted a little snack so asked if we could eat downstairs. We were told we could but they recommended we went upstairs.

So we went up and as we only wanted a quick snack we just had a main course each (which was OK-ish), paid the bill then left. As we were leaving the waiter said "Next time try McDonalds!". So we didn't want 3 courses and a bottle of wine? Sorry, but I think we have a case of ego outstripping performance here.

Not that great and with staff and attitude like that I wouldn't bother going back.

Report this for removal

Tomlemes - 28 Apr 2006 14:13

There is certainly more than a whiff of "*sigh* what do you want now" from the staff, but its a pretty good boozer on the whole, a little difficult to get round inside when its busy, the beer is good and they always have quality spirits - if a little on the expensive side.

Report this for removal

youknowyouloveit - 1 Mar 2006 14:11

I've been here a few times & my main gripe is the attitude of the bar staff, they act as if you are doing them a favour when ordering - they are just as happy to stand there and to chat to each other than to realise there people are waiting to be served. The manager always seems to be having a hissy fit too... probably due to his naff staff!! Food is quite good but like previous comments, quite pricey - average pub really!!

Report this for removal

anonymous - 30 Jul 2005 10:04

This place was a runner up in the Evening Standard Pub of the Year 2005 awards. Don't know why. Service is snooty, food is frighteningly expensive and neighbourhood leaves a lot to be desired.

Avoid - there are far better places - like theProphet just around the corner!

Report this for removal

anonymous - 31 Mar 2005 16:44

I tend to agree with Adrian, the whole ambiance seems to be "youre lucky we are serving you.

The Bombadier is a good pint and the food looks fantastic but if I want almost Parisian disregard I'll hop on the Eurostar.

The whole place seems to have that oh, so studied, Shoreditch cool about it.

Way too contrived.

S

Report this for removal

Shaun - 5 Apr 2004 14:28

Very overrated. Its freezing in the winter and badly ventilated. Its difficult to get served, the landlord has an atitude of disregard to customers. The beer is ok and the food is good but way too expensive.

Report this for removal

Adrian Topple - 5 Sep 2003 17:03

got anything to say about this pub?

Please read our comments policy before posting.
Only registered users can post reviews. Please log in. If you don't have an account yet, register here.