Up Close: Hidden Gem - Highly-acclaimed Fox at Willian | Local News | News | Hitchin Nub News

Hitchin Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We showcase some of these businesses, organisations and interesting individuals from our area displaying creativity and innovation in our regular feature called 'Up Close'.

For our latest Hitchin Nub News Up Close, we're showcasing The Fox at Willian - an award winning country pub in the picturesque village of the same name, renowned for fine dining, wonderful overnight stays and effortless charm.

The view from the Fox at Willian: All Saints' Church, Willian. CREDIT: Nub News

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Up Close: Hidden Gem - Highly-acclaimed Fox at Willian

What would you say if we told you that there is an AA rosette award-winning gastro pub with eight bespoke bedrooms, bar and restaurant, situated near to Hitchin.

Or that we know of a highly-acclaimed pub and fine dining restaurant located in picturesque Willian, an astonishingly evocative village with a pond, a church and two pubs, a mere six minutes from Letchworth train station.

How about if we told you that it was one and the same: The Fox at Willian - a sumptuous pub, restaurant and boutique hotel in the heart of North Herts.

The sumptuous bedrooms at the Fox at Willian. CREDIT: Nub News

The Fox at Willian

The Fox's eight bedrooms are each beautifully decorated with contemporary furnishings and all the touches for a comfortable stay. Their big cosy beds, powerful walk-in showers, tea and coffee facilities, and great wi-fi for business or pleasure, all add to a wonderful stay.

For the warmer months they also have a beautiful garden with an outside bar, overlooked by the 15th century tower of All Saints' Church and a more casual food offering and our great sharing platters.

The Fox's bar is a great local spot, casual and relaxed, perfect for catching up with friends, watching the rugby or joining locals for a nightcap before turning in for the night.

Owned by local success story Anglia County Inns, the Fox's stylish yet relaxed approach to dining can be enjoyed in their modern restaurant, where they serve an abundance of locally sourced, seasonal produce alongside an impressive wine list, which also includes Nyetimber, their own award-winning English sparkling wine.

ACI's outstanding Nyetimber, their own award-winning English sparkling wine. CREDIT: Nub News

Anglia Country Inns: A local success story

ACI is a family run business rooted in a love of good food and proper old fashioned hospitality.

Everything from the service their staff provide, through to the outstanding quality of our suppliers and ambiance of our pubs, builds towards making the ordinary extraordinary.

The same attention to detail is put into every element of their business from the big to the small. So if their chefs are preparing a fresh lobster or rolling pizza dough, or their bar staff are shaking an espresso martini or pouring a pint of ale - everything gets done with a sense of pride and care, because they believe it makes all the difference.

ACI: 25 years of excellent - and counting

ACI was set up over twenty five years ago when Cliff Nye was blown away by the view out of the back of a run-down pub on the North Norfolk Coast and felt that more should be done to do that view justice.

Now that run down old pub is their coastal inn, The White Horse, which has won the Good Hotel Guide Seaside Hotel of the year and Editor's Choice award three years running.

From there came The Fox in the beautiful Hertfordshire village of Willian, The Jolly Sailors in Brancaster Staithe, Hermitage Rd in Hitchin, The Cricketers in Weston, The Kings Head in Letheringsett, The Farmhouse at Redcoats in Redcoats Green and The Lytton Arms in old Knebworth - each styled and run with individuality and charm.

Additionally, as reported by Nub News, ACI have recently opened an exciting new coffee shop and meeting space at Hermitage Rd, where they serve sustainably roasted coffee and hand-rolled bagels. They also have our very own microbrewery Brancaster Brewery, rekindling and reviving a brewery of years gone by in an area steeped in brewing history. They've also opened an Oyster Bar.

ACI say: "No two places are the same, but in each you will find superb quality, stand out food, a wide selection of well-kept beers, ales and wines from around the world and friendly, personal service from our teams of enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff.

"We are incredibly proud to be a business that has grown each and every year, thanks to our loyal customers and staff. Cliff, now joined by his sons James and Howard at the helm, continues to grow ACI with the same sense of fun and pride as it started out with over twenty years ago."

Hitchin: Why not celebrate Christmas at Hermitage Rd this year festive season

SEE NUB NEWS NEXT WEEK FOR OUR REVIEW OF THE STUNNING FOX AT WILLIAM

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