The Fox at Willian is a British gastropub offering breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed yet characterful setting, situated on the village green in Willian near Letchworth Garden City. The Fox combines traditional pub hospitality with a two-rosette kitchen focused on seasonal, locally sourced produce. Dog-friendly and wheelchair accessible, it suits everything from family meals and leisurely lunches to celebratory dinners and special occasions.
Executive Chef Gordon Clark leads the kitchen, with the restaurant championing British ingredients and seasonal produce with thoughtful, modern execution. The Fox works closely with local farmers and producers, including Staithe Smokehouse and Stagenhoe Estate, alongside nearby farmers, gamekeepers and North Norfolk fishermen.
Menus change often, but have included British rock oysters, whipped ricotta with candied lemon and flatbread, and mixed olives, before starters including smoked duck breast with pickled cherries and toasted almonds, Cromer crab tartlet with whipped avocado and yuzu, Herefordshire beef carpaccio and Staithe Smokehouse salmon with cucumber and citrus. Poached Yorkshire rhubarb with chicory and pangrattato provides a vegetable-led option.
Mains continue the emphasis on British produce, from pressed aubergine with garlic cream and toasted buckwheat to poached chalk stream trout with beurre blanc and spring greens. Cromer crab and crayfish linguine, Norfolk chicken ballotine with leek and Norfolk pear fricassee, Wolterton lamb rump with smoked romesco, and line-caught whole market fish are also on the menu. Meatier options include Herefordshire 40-day aged sirloin with watercress and red wine jus, alongside a 700g ribeye served with wild mushrooms, spinach and peppercorn sauce. Sides include triple-cooked chips, tempura seasonal vegetables, spring greens and roast brassicas.
A separate bar and garden offering provides a more casual way to eat, while Sundays bring a dedicated Sunday lunch menu. The Fox also serves breakfast, with its wider food offering built around seasonal produce and familiar pub favourites. The drinks list includes wines by the glass, beer, cider, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks and hot drinks.