The Fox and Hounds – Hunsdon

British, Gastropub·
££££
·

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
British, Gastropub
Ambience
Cosy, Fun, Lively, Traditional
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Alfresco And Views
Beer garden, Outside seating
Special Features
Dog friendly, Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Dates, Group dining [8+]
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Located in the small village of Hunsdon, just five minutes’ drive north of Harlow, The Fox & Hounds is a family-friendly gastropub known for its imaginative food and convivial atmosphere. The pub’s setting within the pretty Hertfordshire countryside makes it a popular spot for weekend drinking and dining among locals and visitors alike, particularly when the weather is fine.

The Fox & Hounds is owned by head chef James Rix and his wife, Bianca, who is in charge of the front of house. James previously worked alongside Gary Rhodes and was head chef at Tom Conran’s The Cow in Notting Hill prior to taking over the kitchen at The Fox & Hounds in 2004. The pair worked hard to restore the building, which is decorated in shades of blue and grey, and softened by rustic wooden tables and chairs, ambient lighting and gilt-framed mirrors and portraits. The pub also sports a wood-burning stove for cosy winter days and a pretty garden for alfresco drinking and dining during the warmer months.

The modern European menu changes with the seasons but favours rustic Italian and French flavours. The food is simple, but sophisticated, meaning you’re likely to encounter dishes such as pappardelle with a braised partridge and pancetta ragout, braised pigs cheeks with chorizo, greens and mashed potatoes or duck breast served with a duck fat potato cake, red cabbage and wild mushrooms. The kitchen also offers steaks, whole fish and seafood cooked in its Josper oven and vegetarians get a look in with mains such as pumpkin ravioli, spinach, sage butter and parmesan.

On Thursdays and Fridays, the pub serves Adnams beer-battered fish and chips to eat in or take away, and on Sundays whole ribs of beef are cooked in the Josper oven for a roast lunch. Drinks include all the usuals, from beers to wine, spirits and softs.

Location

2 High Street, Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, SG12 8NH

01279 843999 01279 843999

Website

Opening Times

Tue-Sun 12N-2.30pm Tue-Sat 6-9.30pm

Reviews

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8 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Anon

14 December 2021  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
LOVE THIS PLACE

Consistently beautiful food and the loveliest of staff. 

Anon

09 May 2021  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 4
Value 5
Consistently good. Always welcoming.

The team at the Fox are one of the hardest working bunch in the industry. Historically, they've blended excellent a la cart with take home gourmet craft bread and home-smoked salmon, so it was unsurprising to see them romp through lockdown, opening a deli and shifting to dine at home.

The restaurant is filled with a mix of locals and those that have made a special journey to dine, and there's always a good atmosphere: bright in summer and snug with open fires in winter. 

Menus change with the seasons and blend interesting dishes as well as standards, like Cote de Beouf to share (and the Bernaise and chips are guilty pleasures).

East Herts is underserved for truly great gastro-pubs, which explains why the Fox is always popular.  

Leigh D

23 July 2017  
Food & Drink 5
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 4.5
Value 4
Not the cheapest but easily the best
Had a couple of lovely meals in this restaurant now. I guess they used to be called Gastropubs. This time I had Cornish lobster which was cooked on a special charcoal oven they have. Made it taste fab. If you're looking to go somewhere with family or friends for a cracking meal or a special occassion without travelling to central London I think can't do much better.

Petra G

31 July 2011  
Food & Drink 5
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 4.5
Value 4
If you want a cheap, boil in the bag, chain restaurant meal, then don't go to the Fox and Hounds. It's a relaxed and comfortable pub with a varied and changing menu. You won't go back a month later and see exactly the same food on the menu, it's more like a proper restaurant. Thoroughly recommend. We took my parents and our kids (9 and 10) and where basically asked ‘what would the children like to eat’. They made a choice from the menu, and one from the ‘do you have any…’ and voila, they had a lovely meal. That's my kind of place to eat.

Jamie N

10 February 2011  
Food & Drink 4
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 4
Chris H's rating is harsh. I have been eating at this Gastropub since it was taken over by an experienced classically trained chef and his wife and turned into a restaurant worth making a journey to…and i do, its half an hour from where i live. Unfortunately there is nothing in the Fox and Hounds' league in Loughton. I would encourage you to try this establishment. Gastropub dining that is a little more than you would pay at your local pub serving chips with everythng but you have to pay up for quality in this World. Go!

Chris H

31 October 2010  
Food & Drink 3
Service 3.5
Atmosphere 1.5
Value 1
Very poor value for what we paid. Food was ok but quite expensive for a pub.

Sally L

16 February 2010  
Food & Drink 4.5
Service 4
Atmosphere 4.5
Value 4
I love the Fox and Hounds. The food is lovely, not your normal pub grub! I have found service to be good and the setting is delightful.

Sue V

05 February 2010  
Food & Drink 3.5
Service 0.5
Atmosphere 0.5
Value 1
I had booked to celebrate my 60th birthday with members of my family and friends on Saturday 30 Jan 2010. My daughter went along earlier in the day to put up a discrete banner and some ballons so the staff were fully aware of the occasion. On arrival we were shown to the dining room which was freezing and we were the only people there at the time. Eventually the room did fill up with other diners. However, the waiting staff had absolutely no customer service skills, never smiled, were as cold as the room in fact. At the end of our meal the waitress brought over my birthday cake which had been organised by my daughter. Not a word was uttered from the waitress and she virtually dumped the cake in front of me and said very sullenly – do you want a knife and plates! This is a great shame as the food was quite good – spoilt by the complete lack of customer service and cold unwelcoming dining room. Having spent quite a lot of money, we were not acknowledged as we left – no-one said thank you or goodnight. I shall never visit again.
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01279 843999 01279 843999

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