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Pub Of The Month - July 2026 with Tris39 on the Pub Forum

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Submitted on Tuesday, 6^th May 2025
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The Sly Old Fox, Birmingham

54-56 Hurst Street
Birmingham
B5 4TD

Correct details

Served areas

Birmingham Central

Reviews of The Sly Old Fox (Average Rating: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Strongers . left this review about The Sly Old Fox

According to the front of the Sly Old Fox, it has been a theatre bar since 1891, which is nine years before the Hippodrome over the road became a theatre, originally called the Tivoli. During my visit I didn’t venture from the front bar area where an L-shaped serving counter faces a banquette with tables to the right and two interesting copper shelves that cover the two front windowsills and protrude out to make a couple of tables. Some bog-standard tables are found in the front left corner and televisions on the side walls were airing muted terrestrial TV while some very slow background music played. On the bar the six keg fonts were pouring Carling, Madri, Staropramen, Alpacalypse, Aspalls cider and Guinness alongside three hand pumps, the Proper Job was off which left Butty Back and Tribute. This place has been decorated to a high standard so it’s a nice spot to have a drink, but I don’t think I’d stay for more than one.

On 22^nd July 2026 - rating: 6
[User has posted 6782 recommendations about 6744 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Steve of N21 left this review about The Sly Old Fox

I did wonder if this pub had had a recent refurbishment as it struck me as being quite clean and smart on entering.
It clearly now has a focus on food as for us also the larger carpeted back room tables were all in use when we entered on last Sunday lunchtime with people eating but we managed to get a spare table in the more pub like front bar.
It has all the hallmarks of a modern gastro pub, with its grey pastel colour scheme, shiny bar top and modern metal racking bar back but good to see all the decorative fox themed glazed windows still all in place and especially around the entrance between the bars. And the food menu remains proper pub grub with all the usually crowd-pleasing favourites such as Steak and Mushroom Pie, Lamb Shank, Beer battered fish and chips e.t.c. And although I was slightly concerned by the promotion of an “English Tapas Menu”, this was basically small pork pies, sausage rolls and scotch eggs with different fillings.
On the Ale front St Austell’s Tribute and Propper Job, Sharps Doom Bar, and Wye Valley Butty Bach and HPA were on the pumps and the Proper Job and Butty Batch we tried were well kept.
We did eat here also and the food was very good as well.
This pub also has the advantage of being straight across the road from the wonderful National Trust maintained Back to Backs, which I can thoroughly recommend booking to take a look at. It takes about 90 minutes to do the tour around this historic piece of period Birmingham housing stock, by which time you’re ready for a pint. Just a shame there wasn’t a mild on offer…

On 11^th March 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2358 recommendations about 2203 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Delboy 20 left this review about The Sly Old Fox

Very busy on my early Friday evening visit. Reasonable choice of beers including Butty Bach, Proper Job and Doom Bar. I tried the Proper Job and another I can't remember. Both were in good shape. Happy to call in again.

On 12^th February 2019 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 1984 recommendations about 1832 pubs]

View more reviews of The Sly Old Fox (18)

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