The Fox - housing development planned

Councillor Mary Maguire has invited a representative from Lateral Property, Star Pubs & Bars development managers, who are planning to develop the site of The Fox to come to the Palmers Green Ward Forum to talk about the plans for the Fox. The forum is on 6 October at in the Mayfield Athletic Club, 1 Kenmare Gardens, N13 5DR at 7.30pm.

Lateral Developments website says:
We are recognised as one of the UK's most active developers of food stores, retail units and restaurants. Our team of experienced development professionals, combined with our comprehensive market database and strong occupier relationships, has delivered projects across the UK for Lateral and for our partners.

Star Pubs and Bars is HEINEKEN's leased pub business which is made up of an estate of around 1,100 pubs throughout the UK. The Hop Poles in Enfield is one of their local pubs.

Lateral Developments are reaching out to a wide range of Enfield groups in their consultations, and a number of further meetings may be arranged.

Hopefully we will finally see some long needed investment in the building and its associated business, something which has been lacking for years. With the PG public realm due to be improved with Mini Holland / Cycle Enfield monies, the opportunity for a community-centric, flagship building holding the northern approach to the high street could be wonderful. Locals have said for years how a suitable pub / gastro pub / wine-bar type could work in this area. Combined with a function room for eg cinema, theatre – including the local drama groups, comedy as well as more traditional functions it could be a blinder.

Then again, who would be surprised if a money-centric viewpoint of seeking to maximise housing return from most all of the space, including some of the existing pub / function room, comes forward.

Money business or community business? Let’s see.

Joe Murray, landlord of the Fox, has posted the following message on the N13 Palmers Green Facebook page :

I have run the Fox since 2005 when I purchased the leasehold from original freeholders. I have worked extremely hard over the years to turn the pub around however, it has become abundantly clear to me that due to decades of neglect and mismanagement by previous owners, that the Fox now requires a very substantial investment in order to refurbish and modernise it both structurally and aesthetically.

After continued talks between myself and Heineken, the current freeholders, we both agreed that this investment should proceed.

Heinekens lease and management group Star Pubs have appointed Lateral Property Group to help them formulate and deliver their proposals. Lateral has a proven track record of working with local authorities and listening to the local community. Over the next few months, they are planning to undertake consultation with the local council, interested parties and residents.

I can assure you all that The Fox will not be demolished and will continue on this site and that the original building will remain. The result will be extremely pleasing to all locally concerned parties and to the wider community as a whole.

Joe Murray

The short report that I issued about the Fox three weeks ago attracted an unprecedented number of readers, mostly redirected from our Facebook page. This indicates just how much interest there is locally in the future of this local landmark.

Some readers may have concluded that the building was going to be demolished. At the time all I knew for sure was that the pub would be "rightsized" and that housing would be built. It has now been stated clearly that the building will not be demolished (see the previous item in this forum topic).

Not much sign so far of the promised consultation. It now looks unlikely that the developers will be at the Palmers Green Ward Forum on Thursday (but the future of the Fox will no doubt be on the agenda).

The Fox is important to Palmers Green as an architectural landmark in the town centre and because of the community roles provided by the function room at the back. It is essential that there should continue to be a function room/community room, but it would be great to see the Fox becoming a community hub in its primary role as a pub. The reasons it currently fails to fulfil this function are to do with past history and neglect by previous licenceholders. An injection of money and imagination could transform it into a place that people want to visit for its food, its beers and wines and its atmosphere. It could become as prominent in the social and community life of Palmers Green as it is prominent in the streetscape.