One of Wiltshire’s oldest pubs also has something of a claim to fame.
The Dog and Fox Inn in Bradford on Avon is one of just two pubs in the entire country to possess that name - with the other in Wimbledon.
Dating back to the early 1700s, the watering hole is proving just as popular today with regulars and tourists flocking to get a pint or bite to eat.
Clive Hilton has been the landlord for a decade and has been enjoying the ride so far despite some ups and downs.
“We are a country pub on the edge of the town so we are where Wiltshire’s rolling fields meet the picturesque town of Bradford on Avon,” he said.
“It is largely as I expected how it would be but we have had some interesting times with Covid and recessions,” he said.
“The good parts are being part of the community and meeting lots of interesting and nice people.
“We host the Forget Me Not Café in the pub once a month for the people who suffer from memory loss as well as Bradford on Avon Talks which is when the local businesses meet.
“We enjoy being able to offer that to other groups."
The pub which dates back to 1699 to 1714 was originally built as a weaver’s house before becoming an ale house.
“The building is well-liked by historians as there is an original spice cupboard with its original hinges and doors,” said Clive.
“A Newell post staircase which we believe dates back to the 1700s.
“The first mention of the pub was in 1875 by weaver John Tucker in the Kelly’s Directory which was the Victorian version of the Yellow Pages.”
Fast forward to the present and the pub is not run by a brewery so the drink choices are a wide variety of ales, lagers and spirits.
“We have Butcombe Original and Timothy Taylor’s Landlord ales on tap while we have Moretti and Amstel lager wise,” said Clive.
“We have a wide range of spirits but we do mulled wine in the winter while Pimm’s in the summer.
“If someone came in and asked for a double expresso martini we would be a bit pushed.”
The pub also serves hot plates of food including classics such as fish and chips as well as homemade pies and burgers.
“We try and make everything ourselves and I think it tastes better,” added the landlord.
“When the sun’s out we can fit around 100 people in the garden.”
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