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The Fox (Free House)

We believe this pub is CLOSED

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Blue Monkey - Infinity IPA (was Infinity)Excellent1
Oakham - CitraExcellent1
Redemption - Big ChiefGood1
Potbelly - BestGood1
Hackney - Irish RedAcceptable1
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Fyne - Hurricane JackNot Tried0
Marble - Lagonda IPANot Tried0
Oakham - JHBNot Tried0
London Fields - Hackney HopsterNot Tried0
Dark Star - SaisonNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - HopfestNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Fox, Hackney, Greater London
Picture 2. The Fox, Hackney, Greater London
Stephen Harris

Visits Details

26 Jan 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Stop two on a Hackney pub crawl, and the barmaid is relatively un-fazed about arriving at noon to find 20 thirsty customers waiting outside. She deals effectively with our needs and has plenty of advice on where else to visit – but there is no time for such niceties as pulling the beer through before serving – with consequences on quality.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Redemption - Big Chief5.50GoodBig-hitting, hoppy beer – although in slightly flat condition.
Oakham - JHB3.80Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
London Fields - Hackney Hopster4.20Not Tried
15 Sep 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Quiet on a mid afternoon Saturday. Three hop monsters on the bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Citra4.20ExcellentProbably the best single hop citra beer, pure citrus hop heaven in a glass. My score 16/20.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Marble - Lagonda IPA5.00Not Tried
06 Sep 2012 (Stephen Harris)
This was our recommended stop for Hackney Brewery beers, although some had already had a Hackney at Duke’s. Apart from our group, everybody seemed to be up on the rooftop terrace on a warm evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hackney - Irish Red4.40AcceptableIf last night this beer had a pleasant tartness, here it has a full-blown lambic-like sourness and I have a job convincing my friends that “it’s meant to be like this”.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Fyne - Hurricane Jack4.40Not Tried
04 Jul 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Quiet in the early evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Blue Monkey - Infinity IPA (was Infinity)4.60ExcellentA pale gold-coloured beer with a fresh, lip-smacking, Citra hop taste. In excellent condition.
Potbelly - Best3.80GoodA tangy and fruity, chestnut-coloured bitter.
Dark Star - Saison4.50Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest3.80Not Tried

About The Fox

The pub sign. The Fox, Hackney, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent2
Good2
Acceptable1
Poor-

The pub is found in Hackney, Greater London, E8 4DA.

The Fox has been present on Kingsland Road for very many years and was most recently re-built in 1881. Tradition has it that King Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn in one of the predecessor versions of the pub on this site. In the nineteenth century it was a Truman’s Brewery pub, later becoming a Watney’s house. Notoriety came in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, with tenant Clifford Saxe implicated in a number of serious crimes including a robbery of the Bank of America and the Security Express robbery in 1983. Shortly after the latter incident, Saxe decided to take early retirement in Spain. The pub passed through various phases, moving a little more upmarket in 2006 and culminating in its re-launch as a craft beer specialist pub in February 2012. It has a roof terrace, and a popular, fully-functioning photo booth. In August 2018 the pub stood closed and boarded-up.

We have visited this pub 4 times, seen 12 different beers and tried 5 of them.

Map location

Postcode: E8 4DA