What a joy it is to see a decaying ruin given a shiny new face lift. No, I am not talking about taking my own tentative steps into The Last Chance Saloon of plastic surgery. I am talking about the pub formerly known as The Fox and Hounds in the smart village of Crawley outside Winchester.
Until about two years ago its reputation, location and architectural attraction had gone down the drain by becoming a dingey, damp, mostly empty pub limping into oblivion, but in October 2018 the management of the equally bright, contemporary Bugle Inn in Twyford (review to follow) took it over, called it The Fox, and have transformed it both inside and out as a beautifully interior-designed destination gastro pub with rooms.
The airy glass-roofed dining room has smart oak floors but the sound-proofing panels help to muffle my absolute pet-hate - echo and noise - retaining classy potential for functions of all sizes. The smaller, panelled dining room has a comfortable, intimate ambience. The bar between the two is not really spacious enough to prop up of an evening, but is an elegant holding pen while you wait for your table. In summer punters can overflow into the wrap-around outside courtyards.
Added publicity and star dust is sprinkled by the occasional appearance of the Chef Patron Lenny on our local celebrity James Martin's Saturday Morning ITV programme. The staff are friendly and keen, and the service swift and efficient, making punters feel welcome and special.
The menu is for treats and occasions. The famed Laverstoke buffalo burgers are local, while torched Cornish mackerel and off-shore mussels, East Coast brown shrimp and Norfolk free-range chicken presumably come from further away. Both times I have been at lunch-time my companion (as professional restaurant critics say) has had the crab sandwich and I have had the enormous cheesy Croque Monsieur with lashings of salad.
The only awkward note is struck by the parking, which is fairly restricted and accessed round an awkward corner, so share lifts and come in as small a car as you can manage!
Until about two years ago its reputation, location and architectural attraction had gone down the drain by becoming a dingey, damp, mostly empty pub limping into oblivion, but in October 2018 the management of the equally bright, contemporary Bugle Inn in Twyford (review to follow) took it over, called it The Fox, and have transformed it both inside and out as a beautifully interior-designed destination gastro pub with rooms.
The airy glass-roofed dining room has smart oak floors but the sound-proofing panels help to muffle my absolute pet-hate - echo and noise - retaining classy potential for functions of all sizes. The smaller, panelled dining room has a comfortable, intimate ambience. The bar between the two is not really spacious enough to prop up of an evening, but is an elegant holding pen while you wait for your table. In summer punters can overflow into the wrap-around outside courtyards.
Added publicity and star dust is sprinkled by the occasional appearance of the Chef Patron Lenny on our local celebrity James Martin's Saturday Morning ITV programme. The staff are friendly and keen, and the service swift and efficient, making punters feel welcome and special.
The menu is for treats and occasions. The famed Laverstoke buffalo burgers are local, while torched Cornish mackerel and off-shore mussels, East Coast brown shrimp and Norfolk free-range chicken presumably come from further away. Both times I have been at lunch-time my companion (as professional restaurant critics say) has had the crab sandwich and I have had the enormous cheesy Croque Monsieur with lashings of salad.
The only awkward note is struck by the parking, which is fairly restricted and accessed round an awkward corner, so share lifts and come in as small a car as you can manage!
No comments:
Post a Comment