The Fox, Twickenham

This is a nice historic pub on a pleasant street in the heart of Twickenham. The pub is believed to be over 300 years old and this is given some credence by the fact that the street level has risen over the years, meaning that you have to descend a step or two in order to enter through the front door. The main bar has a slightly scruffy feel to it, with scuffed floorboards throughout and dark tongue and groove panelling on the walls. A compact, curved servery runs along part of the back wall, turning 90 degrees towards the rear right of the room. Smart cream coloured padded pews runs down this side of the pub, complimented by a few low stools and there is a brick fireplace t5o the rear, as well as a TV screen which was showing the climax to the Premier League campaign. The front and left hand side meanwhile, has a mix of pew and standard seating, with each table provisioned with a clipboard menu and a lit candle. There is a great drawing framed on one wall, showing a depiction of London from a hot air balloon in 1884, whilst an old beer engine has been mounted next to it. There is another small fireplace on this side of the room, close to a door which leads you out to the more modern part of the pub. This space has a bit of a conservatory feel to it, thanks to the glass front and rear, with bare brick walls between. The room is filled with standard tables and chairs and decorated with a mixed bag of old pictures. The rear doors lead out to a nice patio seating area. The stairs to the toilets are lined with various political caricatures as well as the more obvious rugby knick-knacks and local black and white photos. An eclectic range of music played throughout my stay and live music was being promoted throughout. I had a quick look at their menu, which was fairly limited but offered main meals for around a tenner, although it did note that a new menu was to be launched in the coming weeks. The ale selection was a lot better than I’d anticipated, with the options on handpull comprising Twickenham Sundancer and Spring Ale, Windsor and Eton Gallons and Bingham Vanilla Stout and Brickwork Bitter. I sampled the Vanilla Stout which was in great shape and quite comfortably the best kept pint I found on a day crawling around Twickenham. There were a couple of interesting keg options available and over forty different bottled beers to choose from. I very nearly walked straight past this pub without giving it a second thought, but something made me look twice and I’m glad that I stopped to give it a try. There’s a nice ambience to this place, especially in the older bar, and this, coupled with a well kept pint, would be enough to tempt me back.

The Fox - I have an observation, which some of you good "Pubs Galore" folk might be able to help me with. I noticed recently an old wooden money box, like an old alms box, bolted & locked to the actual bar at the front of the main bar. It had engraved on it some chaps name, (which I can't recall) something like Ebenezer...who worked at Billingsgate Fish Market ! Does anyone know what this box is, and why its attached to the bar..??!! I did mention it to a young barman, who claimed he'd been working at the Fox for 2 years and he'd never even noticed the old wooden money box before..! Does anyone know its story??!!

"The Fox" - what a nice pub! Right in the heart of Twickytown centre, handy for the railway station, or if eating out in the town. Blink and you could miss this pub, (and we wouldn't want you to miss out..!) it's hidden off the main drag, down the cobbled street (Church St.) which goes down to the river (Thames). A nice traditional feel to the front bar area, which is just about big enough to swing a cat round, or have a Christmas party, but don't worry there's more room at the back, with seating & tables for dining, etc. There is also a 'yard' area for patrons who like tobacco! Binghams ale was on the other evening, which proved quite popular with the punters. A nice friendly feel to this pub, with no mid-week riff-raff to put up with! Chavs definately NOT allowed. This is Twickenham! 7/10 :o) TJ