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Fox Inn, Felpham

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A largish pub built after the war to replace a former pub destroyed by fire. Note the stone slab inset on the front of the building proclaiming "Henty and Constable's ales"  The original public bar is now the restaurant although meals can and often are eaten in the main bar (booking advised on Sunday lunchtime). The restaurant area has recently ben extended into an Orangery which also accommodates drinkers when the pub is busy. The whole pub is wood panelled throughout with numerous photographs adorning the walls plus a large garden seating up to 300 people. A changing selection of real ales is served often sourced from Timothy Taylor, Palmers and local Sussex microbreweries. Regular tap takeovers are held.

Historic Interest

William Blake used to drink in the pub.

Information for this venue is provided by the Western Sussex Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Arun District
Last updated
03/03/2025
Last surveyed
13/01/2025
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
individual
Pub ID
CHI/091
Asset of Community Value

One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest

Listed status: Not listed

Post-war pub dating from the 1940s, replacing an earlier building destroyed by fire.  Two bar layout remains, together with fixtures and fittings including bar counters, wall panelling, and elements of the bar backs.

This was the very first permanent pub built in Britain after World War II. The old Fox was virtually destroyed by fire in October 1946 and was rebuilt in replica in 1949 by Chichester brewers Henty & Constable using much of the original material. It officially reopened on 19 January 1950 and has been little altered over the years. The saloon includes panelling brought in from Col. Henty’s house in Chichester with matching work of 1949. The small snug-like area left of the main bar was an off-sales until 1990 (note the display window). The Nautical Bar (left) retains its original panelling, counter front and parts of the back fitting: original 1940s gents’. Note the blue plaque commemorating poet and artist William Blake who got himself arrested here in 1803 for allegedly making seditious remarks to a soldier.

General information about historic pub interiors

Post-war pub dating from the 1940s, replacing an earlier building destroyed by fire.  Two bar layout remains, together with fixtures and fittings including bar counters, wall panelling, and elements of the bar backs.This pub's claim to fame is that it was the first permanent public house to be built in Britain since World War II. The old Fox was virtually destroyed by fire in October 1946 - it was re-built as a replica in 1949 using much of the original material and officially reopened on 19th Jan 1950 by brewers Henty & Constable and is little altered over the years. Also of interest are the two Arun District Council Blue Plaques attached to the front of the pub: one for George Morland, a late Georgian painter of animals and rustic scenes and the other is for the better-known poet and artist William Blake who got himself arrested here in 1803 for making seditious remarks to a soldier.

The Saloon Bar on the right features much older full-height oak panelling which came from Colonel Henty's house in Westgate, Chichester. To the right of the door is the old panelling; to the left there is matching panelling from 1949. The bar back looks like the original one with some modern additions, the counter front has fielded panelling from 1949 but a new top. The fireplace in this room is modern; the gents' has been modernised.

The small snug looking area to the left of the main bar was originally an off licence with the curved window for display and the door is now a window - easily visible on the exterior as it still has the licensees details panel above it. In 1990 the partition forming the off license was removed and fielded panelling of a similar style to that in the bar and lounge was added to this area blocking-up the hatch to the servery.

The Nautical Bar on the left also retains its original panelling on the walls in a lighter shade. The counter is also original with a fielded panelling front but the Formica top is modern. The bar back retains old lower shelves but half have been replaced by fridges; above there is a cupboard and panelling on the walls which are original but other woodwork is modern, as is the gents'.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Sunday
Noon - 10:00pm
Monday
11:30am - 11:30pm
Tuesday
11:30am - 11:30pm
Wednesday
11:30am - 11:30pm
Thursday
11:30am - 11:30pm
Friday
11:30am - 11:30pm
Saturday
11:30am - 11:30pm
Sunday
Noon - 5:00pm
Monday
Noon - 8:30pm
Tuesday
Noon - 8:30pm
Wednesday
Noon - 8:30pm
Thursday
Noon - 8:30pm
Friday
Noon - 8:30pm
Saturday
Noon - 8:30pm

Current beers

This Pub serves 3 changing beers and 2 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
Palmers - Copper Ale
Palmers - Copper Ale Session Bitter • 3.7% Spotted 5 times
Palmers - Copper Ale
Palmers - Copper Ale

Session Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 3.7%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Spotted 5 times recently. Last spotted 1 day ago
Taylor's  Landlord Pump clip
Timothy Taylor - Landlord Session Bitter • 4.3% Spotted 6 times
Taylor's  Landlord Pump clip
Timothy Taylor - Landlord

Session Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 4.3%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 1 day ago
Summer Lightning Pump Clip
Hop Back - Summer Lightning Premium Blond Ale • 5% Spotted once
Summer Lightning Pump Clip
Hop Back - Summer Lightning

Premium Blond Ale

ABV: 5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 1 day ago
Palmers - Tally Ho!
Palmers - Tally Ho! Old Ale • 5.5% Spotted once
Palmers - Tally Ho!
Palmers - Tally Ho!

Old Ale

ABV: 5.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 1 day ago
Palmers - Colmers
Palmers - Colmers Session Bitter • 4% Spotted once
Palmers - Colmers
Palmers - Colmers

Session Bitter

ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 1 day ago
Changing

Generally from national but occasionally from a Sussex Micro

Changing beers typically include: Long Man (varies) , Palmers (varies) , Timothy Taylor (varies)

Source: National


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Live Music Live Music
Garden Garden
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Parking Parking
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Events Events
Quiz night on Thursday, Poker on Monday
Function Room Function Room
Games Games
Newspapers Newspapers
Restaurant Restaurant
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Smoking Smoking
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
Dorset Orchards First Press
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes (120m)
Stagecoach: 63 (Vicarage Kane), 700 (Downview Road stop)
Closest station (1750m)
Bognor Regis
Ordnance Survey Reference
Directions
Turn right at the post office, then right again

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