Greene King, unsurprisingly, dominates the pub scene in Bury St Edmunds. We’ve tried the food offering at a few of their pubs, but until recently, we’d never visited The Fox Inn on Eastgate Street.
The pub with rooms has recently reopened after a significant interior refurb, so what better excuse to check it out for a Friday lunch?
Well, there may have been another excuse, too. We were intrigued by their low-cost lunch menu, which offers one course for £8.95, two for £11.95 or three for £14.95…can a meal this shockingly affordable really be any good?
The moment we stepped inside, The Fox Inn felt immediately inviting. There’s plenty of cosy charm – and with the Christmas decorations now up, it makes the place feel even more snug.
There’s parking at the back, too – always a bonus – though this is relatively limited. We hadn’t booked ahead but were lucky enough to grab one of the few remaining tables to the right of the bar. Judging by the number of people coming and going, booking may be advisable…
One handy tip: download the Greene King app before you go. The app regularly offers deals and freebies: on this occasion, that meant my husband’s pint of Cruzcampo (normally around the £6.25 mark) was completely free.
On the food front, my husband started with the salt & pepper squid. It was a solid start: crisp on the outside, tender and not chewy in the middle – be warned, though, those slices of chilli are hotter than he expected! The chilli jam worked well alongside it, adding sweetness to the heat.
My creamy garlic mushrooms were decent enough too: a rich, creamy, garlicky sauce filled with pan-fried mushrooms and topped with a generous amount of cheese. The only letdown was the toasted ciabatta, which would have been fine if it were quite a bit softer.
His classic fish and chips went down equally well, with tender fish and crispy batter – the chips were spot-on, too. The only disappointment was the bowl of mass-produced, gloopy tartare sauce: a shame, as it’s not hard (or expensive!) to make a decent one from scratch.
My crispy chicken main came with chips, garden peas and a pat of fragrant herb butter that melted slowly over the top of the chicken as I ate. A little metal pan on the plate contained what I’m pretty sure was the same garlic sauce as came with my mushrooms…I’m not complaining, though, as it was perfect for dipping everything on the plate.
Was it gourmet pub fare that we ate at The Fox Inn? Well, no – but would you expect it to be when you’re paying such incredible prices? What we got was a tasty, great-value meal served in a cosy setting with fantastic service. Paying under £25 for a two-course meal for two people in this climate is practically a miracle.
And best of all? The Fox Inn is just a stone’s throw from home. We’ll definitely be back – probably with the child next time so he can try out the pub’s £3.95 kids’ mains…