Pub of the week: The Accrington pub named ‘the best’ in Lancashire

Paul Fox – former commis chef at the award-winning Three Fishes in Mitton – began running the Crafty Fox in Abbey Street, Accrington, in 2021.

Here he chats through his story in taking over the bar and what makes it one of the county’s best places to visit

What made you want to take over the bar?

We built the premises in lockdown; we made it all from scratch.  It was a derelict property and we just decided to do it up. 

I’d done food at other pubs, but they had to get rid because of Covid. So, I just walked down Abbey Street one day, saw the property in the state it was and bought it.

What industry background did you have?

Previously I had a club in Accrington called Attic, I’ve been a chef at various places like the Three Fishes (Mitton), I’ve worked all over. 

I originally got into being a chef after doing well on an ITV cooking competition, I can’t remember what it was called, but I just wanted a change from owning a club; I didn’t…