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Under new ownership (so saved from possible redevelopment) and sensitively refurbished and extended during a fifteen month closure, the Fox & Pheasant re-opened in mid-2018, welcoming back drinkers and diners to a quintessentially British and charmingly vibrant country pub on the Chelsea-Fulham border.
The two original bars were restored to their original appearance; an olive tree-filled conservatory (with a retractable roof for summer) was added at the rear; and, on the second floor, a secluded, wood-panelled private dining room that seats up to 22 was created.
Once inside, you could be excused for thinking that you were in a rural setting instead of just a few yards from the busy Fulham Road and close to Chelsea football ground! You enter a small lobby with an off-sales hatch to the servery and doors to the former public bar, to the left, and the larger saloon bar on the right. The interior is a typical modest pub-fitting from between the wars, now quite rare, albeit more comfortably furnished for the twenty-first century. Owner James Blunt has been quoted as saying "The pub is my favourite place in the world. It brings strangers together in a world where politicans want to separate us..."
The pub offers three cask ales which change from time to time; a small range of keg and bottled beers and ciders; and a well-selected wine list and the inevitable cocktails. Whilst the pub still firmly caters for drinkers, for those who wish to eat the pub’s dining experience claims to champion British produce and to be founded on seasonal, sustainable and locally sourced ingredients, all under the care of a Gordon Ramsay-trained head chef. Whilst the kitchen has a break in the late afternoon (except on Sundays), bar snacks are available all day and include classics such as scotch eggs alongside more original dishes like buttermilk-fried guineafowl.
Note that the pub is in a gated private road which contrives with the double-yellow lines on the adjacent public highway to make parking nearby very difficult. If you choose to get here via West Brompton station, there is an interesting "rural route" south through the Victorian-era Brompton cemetery (which closes an hour or so before dusk).
Historic Interest
Built in the late 1840s, at the same time as the canal-worker cottages beyond it, the pub has an unusual curved section dividing the frontage, believed to have resulted from litigation concerning the line of the road. Originally the Prince of Wales, by 1861 it had been renamed the Bedford Arms, then to become the Fox & Pheasant in about 1965. It was licensed as simply a beer house until as late as 1953.
Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
This pub still retains its inter-war layout as well as some fittings from that time.
Built in 1896 as the Prince of Wales, it was licensed simply as a beer house until as late as 1953, and gained its current name in 1965.
As you enter there is a small lobby with an off-sales hatch to the servery and a door to the saloon bar on the right; the door to the public bar on the left was removed in 2017/18. Although it now has something of an upmarket vibe, the overall appearance is quite low-key and what we see is typical of run-of-the-mill pub-fitting between the wars. The servery has glazed areas on each side, which house the spirits and glasses, etc, although the present lozenge-shaped glazing is a modern (2017/18) replacement for the previous glazing that contained rectangular panes of glass. The other woodwork appears to be inter-war. The 2017/18 work also saw the installation of the green tiled dado on the exterior, fixed bench seating in both bars, and the creation of a dining conservatory at the rear, though this latter has no adverse effect on the historic inter-war fittings in the front areas. The rear doors and windows have delightful dimpled glass with green bands, the walls in both rooms have fielded panelling on the dado, and both rooms have attractive wood-framed fireplaces.
A real inter-war time-warp now owned privately by James Blunt and set in a private, gated-off road close to the Chelsea football ground. It was built in 1896 as the Prince of Wales, changed its name to Bedford Arms about ten years later, and then to Fox and Pheasant in 1965. It was licensed simply as a beer house until as late as 1953.
As you enter there is a small lobby with an off-sales hatch to the servery and a door to the saloon bar (right): the door to the public bar was removed in 2017-18. Everything is quite low-key and what we see is typical of run-of-the-mill pub-fitting between the wars. The servery has glazed areas on each side, which house the spirits and glasses, etc, although the present lozenge-shaped glazing is a modern (2017/18) replacement for the previous glazing that contained rectangular panes of glass. The rear doors and windows have attractive dimpled glass with green bands. The 2017-18 work also saw the installation of the green tiled dado on the exterior, fixed bench seating in both bars, and the creation of a dining conservatory at the rear, though this latter has no adverse effect on the historic front parts. A private dining area for groups has also been made out of an upstairs room.
This Pub serves 3 changing beers and 0 regular beers.
Fox & Pheasant, Chelsea
Changing beers typically include: Hook Norton - Hooky , St Austell - Tribute , Timothy Taylor - Landlord
Source: National
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Garden
Family Friendly
Dog Friendly
Function Room
Games
Newspapers
Restaurant
Smoking
Wi Fi
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
Quiet
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.jpg "Left Hand Room. by Michael Schouten. Published on")
.jpg "Left Hand Room Servery. by Michael Schouten. Published on")
.jpg "Right Hand Room Servery. by Michael Schouten. Published on")
.jpg "Fireplace in Left Hand Room. by Michael Schouten. Published on")
