Silver Fox, Sheffield

The Silver Fox has been closed since Spring 2019. In June 2020, it was purchased from Trust Inns by a local property company, Fish Developments. In September 2022, planning permission was granted in order to demolish the building and erect eleven dwelling houses with associated parking. It was demolised in September 2024. The description, below, was accurate at the time of closure. This substantial stone-built pub is set back from the road. The interior is little changed with two bars and a rear passageway with seating. The upstairs functions room remains virtually untouched. On entering, a large panelled lobby area leads to rooms on either side. There are two hatches to the servery that were the original off sales.

The Tap Room is on the left, with the toilets behind. On the right is a large Lounge/Restaurant with a small stage. The central bar feeds both rooms.

The bar on the left retains the original bar counter front that has a number of mirrored panels and a wooden surround, but the original light oak wood now has a very dark stain to it. A new wooden top has been added over the original Formica one but two small sections are still visible. The bar back fitting consists of the original lower part and then in more recent times a section has been added on top. Hence, previously each bar was visible from the other. Most of the lower shelving is intact with fridges under the counter. The fixed seating looks to be the original but there has been changes to the flooring as in the South Yorkshire Times report of the opening, a parquet floor and a York stone paving apron to the bar are described. The article also mentions a large natural fireplace, which has been removed.

The lounge bar on the right retains the original bar counter front, mirrored panels and a wooden surround but the original light oak wood now has a very dark stain. A new wooden top has been added over the original Formica one. The fixed seating is a later addition as the newspaper article mentions a large natural fireplace, which was on the side wall (west elevation) and has been removed. There looks to have been changes to the flooring as in the local newspaper reporting of the opening the floor was described as having a border of random tiles. The only internal change since opening was the 1992 remodelling of the stage and addition of a DJ space (Joshua Tetley and Son Ltd.). A plan indicates this room was originally the lounge and a music (or function) room with a stage.

There is a hallway at the rear with one table and a few chairs in a tiny area on the far left. The Gents retains its original urinals but has modern wall tiling.

Upstairs, double glazed doors with the word, Restaurant above, lead into the dining room. In the left hand corner there is the intact servery consisting of a quarter circle panelled counter of Japanese quartered oak. The original bar back fitting has intact shelving, plain bevelled mirrors and glass shelves in the upper part. Close by is the vestibule also of oak panelling to two-thirds height leading to the kitchen. On the front (north) elevation there are the three raised alcoves mentioned in the newspaper article. The whole room has a fielded dado of Japanese quartered oak, all the panelling is very inter-war in style. Four wooden chairs may also be survivors. The upstairs kitchen has a functioning set of in-out doors. For several years, this room acted as a junk-repository. It returned to use in early 2018.

Off the landing are the toilets which remain intact but are awaiting restoration to bring them back into use. The Gents has blue tiled walls and original urinals. The Ladies has original pink tiled walls.

Built for Tetleys and officially opened on 19th.April 1963, the Summer 1963 edition of Fox Magazine comments: 'the Hotel is fully catering (although not residential), has a superb wine list and an extensive luncheon and dinner menu at most reasonable prices. The dining room and service is a credit to Tetleys and the town.' The 1963 hotel sign board was executed by The Birmingham Guild for Oldham Signs Ltd., for Tetleys, the fox head being in Silver Fox stainless.

The South Yorkshire Times states, 'This is Joshua Tetley and Sons first venture into the provision of restaurant amenities in any of their many South Yorkshire premises, and no expense had been spared in this enterprise.'

The pub is named in honour of the nearly stainless steel manufacturing firm of Samuel Fox and Co. Ltd. The name is believed to refer to Locomotive 60017 Silver Fox. Built in 1935 as LNER No.2512, this engine was one of four 4-6-2 locomotives which worked the Silver Jubilee express from Kings Cross to Newcastle. Under British Rail, it became 60017. Local company, Samuel Fox and Co.Ltd. supplied stainless steel for the lagging band, window frame, hand rails, couplings and nameplates and a relief of a fox on either side of the boiler .