Campaign for Real Pubs: The Cross Foxes

The Cross Foxes, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 7DE

A traditional pub in the mixed residential area of Coleham just across the river from the town centre. The interior is “a symphony in brown”, basically consisting of one L-shaped room with beams, brasses and button-backed banquette seating. No food is served, and it seems to appeal mostly to the classic older male clientele. Draught Bass is the favoured real ale, with a couple of others including on my visit Salopian Shropshire Gold and Worthington Best Bitter.

(photo courtesy of Duncan Mackay aka Pubmeister)

WHAT ARE REAL PUBS?

Real pubs are pubs whose primary function is still the original core purpose of pubs – for people to meet and socialise over a few drinks.

They may serve food, and very good food at that, but they don’t allow it to dominate to the exclusion of all else. They’ll probably have a strong core of regular customers, but still make casual drinkers welcome. They may well serve a good drop of real ale, but won’t be full of beer bores droning on about hop varieties and IBUs.

In many parts of the country they’re getting very hard to find. In recent years, the smoking ban, beer duty hikes, the demonisation of “one-drink driving” and the general anti-alcohol climate have all had their effect, but such pubs do still survive if you know where to look and deserve to be celebrated.

Although in many ways they are a laudable organisation, this blog is not connected with and does not in any way represent the Campaign for Real Ale.

The inclusion of a pub does not necessarily reflect a recent visit by myself, although often it does.

Campaign for Real Pubs

The Cross Foxes

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