The Fox is expected to reopen on Friday 8th March under new management.
Good news! The Fox is expected to re-open on Friday, after a closure of exactly one week following the departure of Whelan's, whose business model depended on being able to host live music. It remains unclear whether it will be possible to install sufficient soundproofing to prevent music from inside the pub creating a nuisance for residents of the new flats built on the former pub car park.
The new lessees are a small company with only two pubs: the Victoria Stakes, at the bottom of Muswell Hill opposite the entrance to Alexandra Park (the pub's name reflects the fact that at one time there was a racetrack in the park); and the Gipsy Queen in Kentish Town.
To date the new operator hasn't responded to a request for information about their plans for the Fox, but it's worth pointing out that the Victoria Stakes has a high reputation for its food, while the Gipsy Queen was last month named as its Winter Pub of the Season 2023/24 by the North London branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra). Branch chair Colin Coyne commented that the award was due to the pub's "great beer and its community focussed ethos", adding that "The team have thought creatively as to what local people want".
Which all looks very promising!