
Quick info
About Fox & Barrel
Fox & Barrel is a white-washed country pub on Cotebrook in Tarporley, where the menu changes daily and the ales are hand-pulled. The dining area is a separate space from the bar. Starters include a half dozen oysters, and the steak pie comes with a suet-type pastry crust. Triple cooked chips and roast potatoes appear as sides. A main built around lamb or venison changes regularly, and Sunday lunch offers lamb and beef mains. The kitchen also turns out a cheese soufflé. Dogs are welcome, so guests can bring their own along. A seated patio with a garden at the back adds more room to eat.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention steak pie, oysters, sunday roast and cheese soufflé.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention steak pie, oysters, sunday roast and cheese soufflé.
Customer Review Summary
Steak pie is the dish diners return to, with one praising its suet-type pastry crust and another naming it a favourite ahead of the cheesecake. Close behind are the half dozen oysters, called a real treat, and Sunday lunch, where lamb and beef mains, roast potatoes crunchy outside and fluffy inside, and triple cooked chips draw praise. Others mention a cheese soufflé, a squid starter, a burger, and a perfectly cooked stone bass, and one reviewer enjoys the regularly changing signature dish such as lamb or venison. Staff are repeatedly described as friendly and welcoming, and a couple of parties were seated quickly even when the pub was packed. The criticism is narrow. One table found a steak that looked stunning but disappointed on the cut, and one reviewer felt a younger staff member lacked the warmth of the rest of the team. Another first thought the prices high until the hefty portions arrived. One diner recalls a server suggesting a child portion so there was room for a pudding.
Customer Review Summary
Steak pie is the dish diners return to, with one praising its suet-type pastry crust and another naming it a favourite ahead of the cheesecake. Close behind are the half dozen oysters, called a real treat, and Sunday lunch, where lamb and beef mains, roast potatoes crunchy outside and fluffy inside, and triple cooked chips draw praise. Others mention a cheese soufflé, a squid starter, a burger, and a perfectly cooked stone bass, and one reviewer enjoys the regularly changing signature dish such as lamb or venison. Staff are repeatedly described as friendly and welcoming, and a couple of parties were seated quickly even when the pub was packed. The criticism is narrow. One table found a steak that looked stunning but disappointed on the cut, and one reviewer felt a younger staff member lacked the warmth of the rest of the team. Another first thought the prices high until the hefty portions arrived. One diner recalls a server suggesting a child portion so there was room for a pudding.
Featured reviews
- Andrew Harrison
“We’ve been here many times, the staff are excellent and the food always great. My fave is the steak pie followed by the cheesecake. We called in yesterday after taking our dog to Delamere Forest and will return soon.”
- Martin Bouchier
“Proper gastropub, with a kitchen operated by a proper chef, serving good quality local produce and a great pint too”
- Ben Davies
“Favourite place! Food, service, atmosphere, seasonality and really love the regular changing of the signature dish e.g. lamb, venison etc.. really nice to try the different dishes. Honestly when is the Michelin star coming?! Cheese Soufflé is a MUST have!”
- Emma Fisher
“If you’re looking for a lovely pub to visit on a summers evening, this pub won’t disappoint. Staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming. Outside has a seated patio area which catches the evening sun and to the back a garden but didn’t use this area. Food was lovely - a real treat are the half dozen oysters 🦪👍🏻. This was followed by a perfectly cooked fish I’d never heard of called a Stone Bass (like a meatier sea bass). My partner had the steak pie which had a divine suet type pastry crust. Definitely one to return to 👏🏻👏🏻.”
- Gail Meers
“They fitted us in when they really didn’t have to, which instantly put them in the good books. However; from the moment we sat down, the staff were brilliant, attentive, warm, and somehow always there exactly when needed without doing that awkward “How is everything?” mid-mouthful interruption. One member of staff deserves special mention for being 'always there'. You know when someone just gets the vibe and makes the whole meal better without trying too hard? That. Food-wise, we had a bit of a plot twist. The steak arrived looking like it had been sent from a photoshoot 😋 absolutely stunning 🤤, and gave me food envy..... but sadly the cut itself was more “looks can be deceiving.” Not terrible, just not living its best steak life. Mine however was absolutely stunning....... the oysters and burger, were GOOOOOOOOD. The kind of good where conversation pauses because everyone suddenly remembers why they came. Drinks were also excellent; no complaints there. There was one younger member of staff who maybe hasn’t found their hospitality sparkle just yet, a little less personality than the rest of the all-star team, but everyone starts somewhere, and confidence comes with time. The rest of the crew more than made up for it and genuinely couldn’t do enough for us. The place clearly has a loyal following too, with people coming in for takeaway lunches, which always says a lot. Good atmosphere, great people, solid food overall, and a team that actually seemed to care. Would definitely go back.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Hand-pulled ales and daily changing menus in a white-washed country pub with an airy dining area.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Solo dining
- Highlights· 2
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Parking· 5
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Parking
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 4
- Casual
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upscale
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
Location
Bars near Fox & Barrel
- The Alvanley Arms4.51,0170.5 miWheelchair accessible
fish and chips, kids burger, pie
- Vale Royal Abbey Arms4.51,8531.8 mi£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
sunday roast, huge homemade yorkshire puddings, fish and chips
- 3 mi£10–20ReservationsGood for kids
dog friendly, full english breakfast, chunky chips
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox & BarrelReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.61,394 | — | £20–50 | steak pie, oysters, sunday roast |
| The Alvanley ArmsWheelchair accessible | 4.51,017 | 0.5 mi | — | fish and chips, kids burger, pie |
| Vale Royal Abbey ArmsReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.51,853 | 1.8 mi | £20–30 | sunday roast, huge homemade yorkshire puddings, fish and chips |
| Crow's Nest Café @ The Farmers ArmsReservations · Good for kids | 4.983 | 3 mi | £10–20 | dog friendly, full english breakfast, chunky chips |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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