A victory for common sense!
Whether as a result of the local pressure, the CAMRA intervention, the House of Commons letterhead, the fear of more adverse publicity or the grey haired old fart with the pony tail, The Fox has been saved!
In truth I expect it was a combination of all these factors but I would like to think that the chairman of Greene King, Mr. Tim Bridge, a lifelong Ipswich Town fan and therefore a generally damned good bloke, stepped in at the eleventh hour to kick the stupid “Meet and Eat” plan into touch.
Whether as a result of the local pressure, the CAMRA intervention, the House of Commons letterhead, the fear of more adverse publicity or the grey haired old fart with the pony tail, The Fox has been saved!
In truth I expect it was a combination of all these factors but I would like to think that the chairman of Greene King, Mr. Tim Bridge, a lifelong Ipswich Town fan and therefore a generally damned good bloke, stepped in at the eleventh hour to kick the stupid “Meet and Eat” plan into touch.
Drinkers happy with pub compromise
By Tim Harris
March 22, 2012
DRINKERS at an historic pub in Farnborough have won the battle in a campaign against plans to turn it into a modern food pub.
The Fox, in Chapel Lane, had been earmarked by Greene King, the brewery which owns the pub, to be changed into a ‘meet and eat.’
By Tim Harris
March 22, 2012
DRINKERS at an historic pub in Farnborough have won the battle in a campaign against plans to turn it into a modern food pub.
The Fox, in Chapel Lane, had been earmarked by Greene King, the brewery which owns the pub, to be changed into a ‘meet and eat.’
This proposal met with fierce opposition from regulars who drink in The Fox.
It is now believed however, the Suffolk brewery has opted not to go ahead with the plans, and instead reached a compromise with the pub.
Maureen Binstead, landlady at The Fox, said: “I phoned and asked what was happening, and they said that they were not going to make it into a meet and eat.
“It is all we wanted really, it has come as a big relief for everybody – the customers are over the moon.
“It will stay as The Fox, it will stay as a central part of the community.
“The main thing for everybody is to leave The Fox as it was, and that is exactly what Greene King are proposing”
It is understood that Greene King asked for a number of small compromises, which includes a door linking the two separate bars of The Fox, and for the pub to serve some food, including snacks, including sandwiches and pies.
“We would like to give them credit – at the end of the day, they have been really good about it,” added Maureen.
“They did listen to us, Greene King listened to what the customers wanted.
“They have done what we wanted, and done what they can to help us out.”
Ms Binstead said she will be staying on as landlady, and will have further discussions with Greene King about the future of the pub.
The brewery itself would not officially confirm or deny the decision.
A spokesman for Greene King said: “We have taken on board the views of the locals and are currently working with the existing licensee on solutions for the Fox.
Interesting that, in light of what I said at the meeting, Maureen has been asked to serve pies and just put a door between the two bars. No doubt we can ensure that it is always locked!
My good friend from Cardiff, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of jeopardising his GK pension, offered this in celebration:
A Tim Bridge Too Far.
The battle has been fought and won,
The brewery’s been outFoxed at last;
Now "Meet and Eat" is Dead and Gone,
And Chris and co can carry on,
As, happily, the danger’s past.
The battle has been fought and won,
The brewery’s been outFoxed at last;
Now "Meet and Eat" is Dead and Gone,
And Chris and co can carry on,
As, happily, the danger’s past.
A close run thing, young Baltzer claims -
A victory for common sense.
Green King admits their fun and games
Must cease – against so many names,
And one MP, there’s no defence.
The tenant’s had to compromise,
But IPA will flow, no doubt,
And there’ll be peace if Mo supplies
A door, and Baltzer gets his pies
With mustard, and, at times, without!
So the Fox stays as a "Meet and Drink", at least until the next young upwardly mobile marketing hopeful comes up with a sooper new idea!
A victory for common sense.
Green King admits their fun and games
Must cease – against so many names,
And one MP, there’s no defence.
The tenant’s had to compromise,
But IPA will flow, no doubt,
And there’ll be peace if Mo supplies
A door, and Baltzer gets his pies
With mustard, and, at times, without!
So the Fox stays as a "Meet and Drink", at least until the next young upwardly mobile marketing hopeful comes up with a sooper new idea!
So here's a warning for Mr. Bridge:
Hey Ho!
