Intrepid Fox, Wardour Street
A tribute to a legendary rock'n'roll boozer
(Photos/words © urban75, November 2006)
Once a favoured haunt of the urban75 crew back in our tight-trousered, hard rockin' days, the Intrepid Fox has been a legendary boozer on the music scene for decades.
Once patronised by the likes of Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, the Sex Pistols, Zodiac Mindwarp and hellraising actor Richard Harris, in latter years the pub had become one of the last rock'n'roll boozers left in central London.
With only a month's notice given of its impending demise, a hastily assembled campaign was started to try and save the pub but was unable to prevent its closure in September, 2006.
Sold off by owners Mitchells & Butlers along with 20 other central London pubs as part of a £53 million deal, the building looks set to be demolished by property developers and replaced with some faceless designer apartments.
This marks the end of a line for a pub with a very long history, with the Intrepid Fox being founded by Whig leader Charles James Fox in 1784 who promised to dish out free beer to anyone offering him electoral support.
Sadly, the Intrepid Fox has now joined an ever-growing list of disappearing rock'n'roll landmark venues, with homogenised developments already seeing off the famous Gossips Club, Marquee Club and the Dive Bar, with the nearby Astoria also under threat.
Comments from urban75 bulletin board posters:
FridgeMagnet 4-09-2006: "I love the Fox, me - I've been in besuited and not. One of the friendliest, politest and least tossy crowds of pubs around there, I always thought. Haven't been back for a while but I shall have to do so."
rutabowa 11-09-2006: "I went last week to say goodbye. don't bank on being able to get a table, it's rammed with people with the same idea, and people taking photos and stuff, it was a bit depressing. S'alright standing outside tho, but then you might as well just go to a shop first for cans."
N1 Buoy 11-09-2006: Get there early folks.
A mate of mine went on Saturday to say goodbye and it was so packed they weren't letting anyone else in. She ended up having a night out in our living room instead."
UPDATE FEB 2007: THE INTREPID FOX RETURNS
We're pleased to say that Fox reopened in new premises in December 2006, right next to Centre Point at 15 St. Giles High Street, London (nearest tube: Tottenham Court Rd).
Billed as welcome to 'metallers, goths, punks and rock'n'fuckin' rollers!!!', it feels much the same as the old Fox, and there's even some of the old bar staff still pouring out the pints!
 New Intrepid Fox
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Intrepid Fox
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