Felpham pub landlords ‘gutted’ to be moving on after 14 years

A couple, who have ran a pub in Felpham for 14 years, have thanked customers for their support after announcing they would be moving on this week.
Andy and Alison Hirons ran The Fox Inn for 14 yearsAndy and Alison Hirons ran The Fox Inn for 14 years
Andy and Alison Hirons ran The Fox Inn for 14 years

Andy and Alison Hirons will serve their customers at The Fox Inn, in Waterloo Road, for the last time today (Wednesday, September 16).

The pub, based in Waterloo Road, Felpham Village, has temporarily closed down after the management team was unable to secure terms for a new lease.

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A statement on the pub’s Facebook page last Friday, read: “It is with heavy hearts and deep regret that we have been unable to secure terms for a new lease that will make running The Fox commercially viable as a tied business particularly in these challenging times ahead.

After 14 years of serving customers, The Fox Inn, based in Waterloo Road, Felpham Village, will close down and change hands after the management team was unable to secure terms for a new lease. SUS-200916-102040001After 14 years of serving customers, The Fox Inn, based in Waterloo Road, Felpham Village, will close down and change hands after the management team was unable to secure terms for a new lease. SUS-200916-102040001
After 14 years of serving customers, The Fox Inn, based in Waterloo Road, Felpham Village, will close down and change hands after the management team was unable to secure terms for a new lease. SUS-200916-102040001

“We would like to thank all our customers and staff for your supported us over the past 14 years.

“We have meet some wonderful people over the years, many of which we now call friends and had the honour of working with a great team of staff who we consider family.”

In another social media post this morning, the pub thanked customers for their ‘lovely messages and support’, adding: “We have some great memories to treasure.”

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Speaking to the Observer, Alison said she was ‘gutted’ to be losing her ‘family pub’.

After 14 years of serving customers, The Fox Inn, based in Waterloo Road, Felpham Village, will close down and change hands after the management team was unable to secure terms for a new lease. SUS-200916-102029001After 14 years of serving customers, The Fox Inn, based in Waterloo Road, Felpham Village, will close down and change hands after the management team was unable to secure terms for a new lease. SUS-200916-102029001
After 14 years of serving customers, The Fox Inn, based in Waterloo Road, Felpham Village, will close down and change hands after the management team was unable to secure terms for a new lease. SUS-200916-102029001

She added: “We’re at the centre of the village. It’s a strong community. 
“We ran parties and there’s always been a good atmosphere here, with wide-ranging people.

“We sometimes have old customers coming back years later with their families. It’s always been our local.”

The pub’s owners Stonegate Pub Company said it is ‘working hard’ to ensure The Fox Inn reopens ‘as soon as possible’ under new management. 

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A spokesperson said: “It has been a successful pub for many years, and we look forward to seeing it continue to thrive in the future.”

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