The Fox, Shipley

A small, one-room bar, housed in a former shop, sandwiched between a Chinese takeaway and a motorcycle dealership may not sound the most promising of venues. However, it’s a lot classier than its modest surroundings would suggest and is certainly no Wetherspoons ‘mini-me’, with owner Chris Bee having previous good form as a co-founder of the Salamander brewery. On opening in September 2013, it achieved almost immediate acclaim and rapidly become a ‘must visit’ when doing a crawl in the area. Despite its size, it works really well and has a surprisingly traditional, pubby atmosphere. The interior has a maroon and white colour scheme, a wooden floor, walls covered in pub ephemera and photos of old Bradford, plus a fine old dark bar in the corner. Normally, up to six beers are available on hand pump, but choice was a little restricted on my midday visit due to a particular thirsty crowd from the Saltaire Brewery Beer Club descending the night before! However, the Dr Morton’s ‘Cheese Restrainer’ and Bridestones ‘Smoked Porter’ were both in excellent nick. For non-real ale fans there’s a choice of several decent lagers and wide range of foreign bottles. Service from the barmaid was friendly and welcoming and there was already a good buzz about the place. A return visit, later in the afternoon, with my beer buddies for the day, saw the place absolutely heaving, a testament to its popularity. Undoubtedly, my first port of call, when next in Shipley. Visited 29.11.14

Official site of The Fox - www.thefoxshipley.co.uk

Official site of The Fox - www.thefoxshipley.co.uk

A converted small shop unit in fairly basic style, think North Bar in Leeds or Off the Taps in Bingley. In spite of the big clear shop windows and door it's a bit more pubby in feel than those two fine bars due to the seating types and traditional pub-like decor. The counter is to the back to one side and has six pulls of interesting beers in very good condition making it very popular with discerning drinkers of the Aire Valley. The back door is only a few yards from the entrance onto the Leeds bound platform 1 of Shipley Station.