The Fox Public House

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“Before our door where I was born stood, on the opposite side, a considerable clump of well-grown trees, amid which was a hatters working shop. On the adjacent corner of Hurst Street stood the Fox Tavern, as it stands now; but then the sign had been newly painted by a one-armed, short, quick-stepping, nervous-faced, dapper artist; and a very wonderful fox it seemed to me” These words were spoken by George Jacob Holyoake (an English secularist, newspaper editor and founder of the co-operative movement) referring to his childhood in Hurst Street 1820 .

There has been a public house named “The Fox” on this site since around 1808 when the development of the Gooch & Inge land was first taking place. The present building was built in 1892 (although the sign says 1891) probably in anticipation of the building of the “City Assembly Rooms” (a dance hall) on the opposite corner of Inge Street. When the Tivoli Music Hall & Theatre (later The Hippodrome) was built behind the Assembly Rooms the Fox was in a position to accommodate the increasing numbers of patrons and performers, thus becoming one of Birmingham’s premier “Theatre Bars”.

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By the 1990s when The Arcadian site was being developed The Fox was retained, revamped and renamed the Old Fox. Then, around 2018 it was time for more changes. This time much of the vulnerable leaded windows were replaced with traditional etched glass (presumably armoured) and it acquired a coat of grey paint. Finally by March 2019 it had sun blinds, offered “continental biers” and another adjective on the sign. It became “The Sly Old Fox”.

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During the 1892 rebuild , snob screens would have been fitted. The snob-screen, as pictured, are also a lovely feature and are a relic from the hierarchical society of Victorian & Edwardian Britain. Snob screens allowed the famous actors and performers from the Hippodrome, middle class and well to do drinkers to block out the view of working class drinkers in an adjacent bar. It also allowed them to have some privacy from the bar staff so they didn’t overhear any potential gossip!

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This historic public house has been host to many celebrities and characters over the years, right from the Music Hall period up to present day. If the walls could talk they would have a tale or two to tell. Past customers would have been Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy enjoying a fine pint of best bitter.

Having recently undergone a major refurbishment and changing its name to “The Sly Old Fox”, this traditional pub can offer a refreshed interior but also an extensive, food, craft beers, wine and Gin menu, making it the perfect venue for pre or post theatre dining.

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As we walk off to the south, about four doors from the Fox was another pub. This was shown as The Vine Tavern on a map of Hurst Street pubs, but not much information can be found. It is suspected that, as the properties here were originally back to back houses this was probably a converted house, often dubbed as a “drinking den” where the proprietor was listed as a “beer seller”. Many of these seem to have vanished as the licensing laws became more stringent. As if not to be outdone this stretch of Hurst Street also had another “vanished” pub, The Unicorn Tavern which was five doors away from the Australian Bar. This has also seemed to vanish without a trace. The map of the route of the walk has these lost pubs shown with their approximate locations.

Just to confuse matters, there is a pub called “The Fox” in nearby Lower Essex Street a mere one fifth of a mile away on foot!