Here’s the honest truth: The Old Fox is genuinely fun, but you must book in advance. I walked past on a Tuesday at 4pm, and there was still a line of eight people arguing about who got the last table. The hostess, wearing a fox mask, handled it like a diplomat from a chaotic country.
The cocktails are £14 each, which is a slap in the wallet, but they come in glasses shaped like acorns. You’re paying for the theatre. One cocktail, “The Cunning Plan,” arrives in a smoke-filled glass box that you have to open with a tiny key.
I recommend the “Old Fox Lager” – it’s not fancy, but it’s cold, and it lets you laugh at the people fumbling with the smoky box. Classic fox move: keep your options simple while others complicate themselves.
The Verdict (Spoiler: Go)
If you live in St Albans, you’ve already seen the photos. If you don’t, drive there. The Old Fox is the kind of place that reminds you eating out should be a ridiculous, joyous adventure. Where else can you argue with a dead fox about the price of truffle fries?
Just remember: the bar is small, the taxidermy is watching, and the hidden door to the broom closet is a trap for the over-curious. But honestly? That’s the fun part. Go, take a photo, and if the monocle fox glares at you, just buy him a whiskey. He’s a surprisingly good tipper.
So, is The Old Fox now open in St Albans? Yes. Are the photos as good as they look? Yes, and better. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to figure out how to book the Grotto for my cat’s birthday. The fox in the suit said it’s “purr-fectly acceptable.” I’m not sure if that was a pun or a threat, but I’m going with it.
