The Fox pub in the village of Bar Hill, Cambridge, has reopened to the community following a complete transformation and mammoth investment by leading pub company Punch Pubs & Co.
The beloved community pub, which closed in June, now welcomes guests with a fresh new look, a revamped menu, and an entertainment lineup.
Aside from the aesthetic changes, The Fox is also now under the management of Sharron Wills, a hospitality veteran, who was initially blown away by the pub’s potential. She said: “When I was first contacted about The Fox, I immediately got a good vibe. It feels so good to have reignited my passion for this industry, and I’ve been made to feel incredibly welcome. Not only am I pleased to be here, but I’m also thrilled to be back partnering with Punch, who have been a huge support during this transition.”
Externally, The Fox has been revived with new signage and seating, in addition to a children’s play area equipped with a climbing frame, slide and ropes, perfect for families to enjoy the sunshine and upcoming summer holidays.
Inside, The Fox’s distinct sports zone has been transformed and now, centred around its iconic pool table, are high tables and stools, two upgraded dartboards and a TV screen to catch up on the world’s biggest sporting events. The spacious area has also been modernised with new flooring throughout, and cooling shades of blue which complement the warm lighting.
The dining space has also received a glow-up complete with new dining chairs, soft fabrics and bric-a-brac which retains the warm ambience of the pub but with a modern twist, and its main feature, the bar, has been upgraded and restocked with wines, spirits, ciders, beers and softs to suit every fancy.
With a passion and eagerness to ensure the pub becomes a vibrant hub for locals, Sharron has already cemented a full summer schedule of entertainment with quizzes, karaoke and live music making a regular stamp on the pub’s agenda to ensure that each week the pub is the go-to place for family fun and good times.
Speaking about the relaunch of The Fox, Sharron continued: “The reopening day was really positive, there’s always going to be teething problems, but all of our guests were so understanding and patient. We had great fun and I’m proud of the team for working together to ensure our guests had a great time.”
Punch Pubs & Co Operations Manager, Neil Tooth, added: “I’m incredibly proud of Sharron and the team for their seamless reopening of The Fox. It’s clearly been missed by the community, and it was great to see the team be welcomed with open arms. This investment from Punch will be instrumental in reviving this fantastic pub and allowing it to sit at the heart of the community truly. Sharron is a fantastic operator, and I do not doubt that she will have a very successful future here.”
Aside from aesthetic changes at The Fox, Sharron and the team have crafted an all-new food menu which boasts traditional pub classics, sharers and sides as well as specials like their Two for £12.49 mains, or 3 for £12.49 starters. Guests can choose from the pub’s broad offering of beer-battered fish and chips, and vegetable lasagne to steak and ale pie, chicken tikka masala and grilled gammon, in addition to their indulgent sticky toffee pudding, ice cream doughnut sundae and apple and raspberry crumble desserts.
The Fox’s revival has been eagerly anticipated by the local community, who were teased with regular updates on the pub’s Facebook page. And they were quick to share their thoughts on their new local, expressing their gratitude for the pub’s reopening, commenting, ‘Wow, our Fox looks amazing’, ‘I would highly recommend’, ‘Fabulous evening, thanks to the team’.
The Fox is now open seven days a week. More information is available on its website and social media pages.
Pub website: The Fox – Our Local Pub