The Fox led the way as one of the first sleeker venues in up-and-coming Dalston. Several years – and owners – later, it’s finally fulfilling its potential.

The Venue
Way back before hipster and Dalston were loosely connected terms, the Fox opened, received a mixed response and could only watch on as neighbouring venues opened and boomed. Reinventing itself as a venue to cater for the oh-so-trendy types flocking to the area didn’t seem to work so well either and it closed again. Now, the venue has been taken over by owners of Hoxton Street’s Howl at the Moon and has rebranded itself as a ‘craft beer house’ – and with so many hipsters getting excited by hops these days, it’s a niche that’s still to be fully exploited. The interior remains a lot barer than it originally was, but with funky-looking wooden tables and sofas that cater for all crowds, plus a well-crafted drinking ledge, a decent size bar, seating on the street, and a well-refurbished roof terrace that is perfect for smokers or just being outside in the summer months, it really has a lot going for it.

The Atmosphere
While it’s still fairly quiet compared to neighbouring venues, the Fox has way more atmosphere than it ever has done. Full of friendly staff and locals looking for a more relaxed setting to sit and drink without being squashed like a tinned sardine, it has a laid-back atmosphere and is the perfect venue to start your night, or for a good old-fashioned Saturday or Sunday afternoon drinking session – especially following a roast.

The Food
Serving up traditional British grub, the pub has a keen chef committed to providing quality food. The menu changes regularly, but typical dishes include smoked salmon with samphire and potato salad (£6.50), potted smoked mackerel and horseradish on sourdough (£5.50), as well as 10oz sirloin steak with roasted vine tomato, chunky chips and peppercorn sauce (£16.50) and squash pie with Cashel Blue cheese, lentils and walnuts with spring greens (£12). There’s a good selection of desserts, too, from £4.50. On Sundays, the pub served traditional roast dinners.

The Drink
The rebranded Fox is seriously focused on its beer, regularly rotating the cask ale selection from the likes of Thornbridge, and serving up a fantastic selection from around the world in bottles. Typical beers include Brooklyn Lager, Bernard (Czech), Sierra Nevada, Kill Your Darlings (Thornbridge) and the most excellent Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted. If beer doesn’t float your boat, the venue does cocktails, too – priced from a reasonable £6 – and you can get everything from the classics such as cosmopolitans and amaretto sours to fancy after-dinner cocktails such as a chocolate almond (amaretto, creme de cacao dark and cream).

The Last Word
With no sign that the capital’s thirst for real ale and craft beer is going to diminish anytime soon, the reinvented Fox is all set to be a big hit with local hipsters and ale heads alike.

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