The Fox, Caterham - pub details
Address: Fox Lane, Coulsdon, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5QS [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 12052) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Whyteleafe South (1.7 miles), Whyteleafe (1.8 miles), Upper Warlingham (1.8 miles)
Chain: Vintage Inns
Pub facilities/features:
- Food served
- Outside seating, Children allowed
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> Current user rating: 2.9/10 (rated by 47 users)
other pubs nearby:
Ladybird, Caterham (0.4 miles), Village Inn, Caterham (0.7 miles), Tudor Rose, Coulsdon (0.8 miles), Wattenden Arms, Kenley (0.9 miles), Clifton Arms, Caterham (0.9 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Fox, Caterham
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 70 shown - see all reviews
| Have been in a few times since the refurb in mid-February 2018. Am pleased to say that the new decor is pretty sympathetic and hasn't screwed the place up which seems the mission of may 'pubcos'. There are now two doors inside the building - one for bar and one for restaurant and also a partition dividing the two. The bar counter itself has been shortened by a few yards. All of which is fine, but the bar area seems to feel much smaller and gets crowded more easily; it would be wrong to call it claustrophobic but it is a bit more confined. Other changes - some of the long time staff have moved on but have been replaced by people who mostly seem to know their stuff. As mentioned previously, the assistant manager Nuno is very likeable and is excellent front of house. I've revised my opinion of the manager, Adrian, who seems on reflection to lack people skills and is a man of petty rules. He also needs to learn that its very poor to admonish staff in front of their colleagues - let alone in front of customers which I've seen happen. The three real fires remain and have been very welcome during the past few cold months. Beer doesn't change much - usually Doombar, Harveys Sussex Best and London Pride. I don't normally like Pride, buts its pretty good in here, and the Harveys very drinkable as well - pricey though at more than £4.40 a pop which is high for a suburban pub. Even the fizzy keg cider (Cornish Orchard) is apparently £4.20. Real cider is Old Rosie. Not tried the food, but apparently the menu is now the pubco's 'premium'. Shame that when the kitchen staff come into the bar area, their chef's whites are always grey and look dirty. Having said all that, I do like place and its still - in my view - the best pub in area and most of the staff and punters are very likeable. Not half. on_the_brightside - 28 Apr 2018 17:48 |
| At last, beerintheevening.com seems to be working again (for how long, who knows). So I can at last make this post about the Fox. I've popped in here a few times the past couple of months and it seems much improved. The current manager (Adrian I think) is doing a decent job - he isn't necessarily hugely charismatic but seems to know what he's doing and is professional: qualities that have been missing in others over the recent years. But he still rosters too few staff from time to time. The newish assistant manager Nuno comes across as gregarious and likeable but since his arrival the manager has largely gone invisible. Anyway, its far less of a push-chair park than it was (which I personally appreciate). This is perhaps because it much more dog friendly! There are pluses and negatives there. As with the children - parents who make them behave bring a pleasant atmosphere. Dog owners who don't take them outside when they start a barking frenzy don't do anyone any favours. Mostly though, dogs and owners are good. Its a bit surprising though too see them allowed everywhere in the restaurant - nut my cup of tea. Also some of the female stuff make a big petting fuss of them and then go back to serving. Seen lots of examples of this recently - the other day a muddy dog is getting a serious stroke and jumping up on the staff member who then heads into the kitchen right after. This is not a one-off and I won't be eating there anytime soon as a result. WASH YOUR HANDS! Many of the staff are good too but a couple of the younger female cohort (Hannah and Katherine I think) are best at talking to each other and not knowing who is next to serve. A test could be in February when word is its closing for a refurb - let's see what the pubco does. Hopefully it won't end up totally focussed on the food trade... And they could use the close down time for some basic staff training! So, all in all, I'm happy popping in there - the pubside punters are a good and mixed bunch. So the Fox should focus on quality of bar service (after all these years...) and also avoiding the food screw ups which still seem to arise from time to time. In the meantime, I'd give it a six. Toodle-oo. on_the_brightside - 13 Jan 2018 19:24 |
| Marking this and the Tudor Rose the same and giving the same review. Large barn like pubs in old buildings, modernised with some faux hint of the past, busy, foodie, so successful businesses. Dull beer (Greene King type poo, Doom, Pride) and zero charm with nothing that I would expect a real pub to have in terms of ambience and fittings. Coulsdon you are welcome to them. baggydave - 16 Apr 2016 19:48 |
| Hey ho, popped in a few times the past month or so. The pub doesn't deserve its silly low score that's for sure. But its not really a pub - walk in during the mid-afternoon in the week and there are no pub customers and frequently no staff behind the bar. When there are staff they are very polite and some (especially Carol) very efficient. Thing that gets me though is that it so often feels like a crèche. Prams everywhere, toddlers balanced on the bar or in front of fruit machines. I know that the licencing laws allow this but I'm old and miserable :-) aren't pubs mostly for adults? I expect its me! P-p on_the_brightside - 1 Apr 2015 22:40 |
| Large rambling pub on edge of Cousldon Common with beer garden. Always busy on fine weekends and bank holidays. Reasonable if uninspiring range of beer. I had London Pride which was in good condition. Large food menu, but I fear that Brake Brother's vans often call and much is microwaved. The staff are pleasant, but have difficulty coping when it is busy. It took nearly an hour for our food to arrive. simontheeditor - 10 May 2014 15:01 |
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