Fox & Hounds, Royston

The Fox and Hounds is a nice looking pub in the North Hertfordshire village of Barley and is famous for the gallows sign that extends across the road depicting a hunting scene with the hounds and huntsman chasing the fox. It should be a solid popular country pub, but unfortunately has had a bit of a chequered past. Under the management (or lack of it) of Punch taverns it suffered several landlords in quick succession before being bought by a chef who turned it into a bit of a Gastro pub. Unfortunately six months after taking over in September 2007 it suffered a very bad fire and was shut for six months whilst it was completely renovated. And although it continued in the guise of a gastro pub, the economic downturn took its effect and it closed again last year. However it has now reopened as a ‘proper real ale pub’ in the words of the new proprietor who has bought the freehold from Punch taverns. This is one Adrian Parkes whose track record is as owner of the Falstaff Microbrewery housed in the Falstaff pub in Derby, which is currently Derby City CAMRA pub of the year. So things look very rosy , and they certainly did when I popped in on the Friday Bank Holiday. Three hand pumps on the bar and as well as two brews from the Falstaff brewery (3 Faze and Smiling Assassin) there was Dark Star Hop Head and the two we tried were in excellent condition. The pub itself has been nicely refurbished without losing its old charm. Internally it is a main area at the front of the bar which is subdivided into three different sections by the original large stone fireplace and wall beams and then another room section to the back of the bar. There is a large car park to the side of the pub and then the garden area with plentiful bench seating is beyond this.. I really hope this new guise for the Fox and Hounds succeeds. This has been an infrequent stop off for me over the years when I’ve got fed up with the M11 and had the time to enjoy the B1368, but I will certainly be making more frequent visits if the good start is continued.