Fox in the Box Bar

11/06/2026

📢 Update 11/06 📢

Hi everyone,

Further to our last update, all customers with functions booked in for this weekend, will be contacted today. Sadly, it is unlikely that relief will be granted in time for this weekend.

We remain in daily contact with our legal team, who are currently liaising with a barrister, to take our case forward via the courts. This process is taking longer than we would like, but we are unfortunately unable to influence this.

We were hoping to have more information to pass on at this point and were hopeful that we'd be back in before this weekend.

We remain confident that this is wrongful forfeiture of our lease and that it will be deemed to be unlawful.

For the avoidance of doubt, we should have 7 years remaining, under the terms of our lease, we have always paid our rent and the Fox in the Box hasn't been accused of any breaches of its lease.

Our primary focus is getting emergency relief from forfeiture, so that we can get back in and fulfil our customers important functions and celebrations.

We are currently compiling a summary of our damages, as part of our wrongful forfeiture claim against the landlords. We would like to reassure you that all outstanding monies owed to customers, who's functions we cannot fulfil, will be included within this. We do not currently have a timescale for recovery of these funds, however, as soon as we know more we will let all affected customers know.

We are currently unable to respond to all the individual messages and emails that we are receiving, due to the sheer volume and the time we are spending with the ongoing work for our legal team.

Thank you all, for your ongoing understanding, kind words and support, particularly for signing the petition online, which was kindly set up by a friend of the Fox.

The support from our community has absolutely blown us away, it is much needed and means so much to us.

New Bookings : We are still receiving enquiries for new bookings and tables for the World Cup.
Given the current situation, we are currently unable to take new bookings. Please keep an eye on this page for updates. Following conversations with our solicitors, we are optimistic that relief will be granted quickly and we will then be able to get you booked in.

Thank you for bearing with us during this incredibly difficult time.

🦊 Matt & Stacey 🦊

03/06/2026

📣 Update 03/06/26 📣

Our legal team believe that this forfeiture and associated notices are served in error and are not lawful or valid.

We have instructed them to apply for immediate relief from forfeiture, through the courts. If granted this will allow us to gain access back into the premesis and fulfil our bookings.

This process is likely to take place over the next 7 days. As more information becomes available to us, with regards timeframes etc, we will update everyone further.

We did not expect this to happen and we are surprised with the evidence available, that the landlords have chosen to take this path.
This appears to go against all the conversations that have taken place between our respective solicitors.

We have personally contacted everyone who had functions booked in for this coming weekend and spoken to them over the phone.

As it stands we are optimistic that we will receive relief from forfeiture and functions booked in from 12/06/26 onwards will take place as planned.

More updates will follow as the situation develops.

Thanks for your ongoing patience and support during an exceptionally difficult period.

We are inundated with messages at the moment and doing our best to answer queries, please bear with us, we are working hard to ensure that we can re-gain entry and ensure that all functions go ahead.

Thank you to everyone in the local community for the outpouring of support. It means the world to us.

A special thank you to Hilltop Sports and Social Club, The Forge in Dronfield, Casa Hotel and Eckington Civic Centre for offering to help with accommodating bookings in the meantime.

And finally, a big thank you to Francesca Baxendale for reaching out to her network to help in any way she can. We are so very grateful 🥹❤️

🦊 Matt & Stacey 🦊

02/06/2026

Dear Customers,

We are devastated to arrive at the premises today to find that the new Landlords of The Akademy Limited who took over in November 2025 have forfeited our leases on both The Akademy Football Pitches Limited and Fox in the Box Bar.

Since they took over on site, it has been clear that we were no longer welcome as our businesses were not in alignment with their "vision" for the site.

We have been fighting this legally since December with exceptional cost both financially and emotionally. This has taken incredible toll on our family life. We have jumped through the hoops forced upon us, but it seems that their decision had already been made.

As many of you will know, we invested our life savings into the renovation of the premises and have worked tirelessly to build a friendly, family run business. We got married at The Fox and our children have grown up knowing it as home.

Please rest assured that we are pursuing this legally and will do everything in our power to return any deposits and room fees that have already been taken and help you to find alternative venues within our network in the meantime.

We will provide further updates as soon as we are able to, please bear with us at this incredibly stressful time.

We sincerely hope that justice will prevail.

🦊 Matt & Stacey 🦊
Owners, Fox in the Box Bar

08/05/2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️ World Cup 2026 ⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Who is joining us at The Fox to watch England play in the World Cup? 🍻😄

More details to follow in the coming weeks, but it's going to be bigger and better than ever!




🦊

06/05/2026

🦊 Saturday 6th June 🦊

Last minute availability for Saturday 6th June (evening) due to a cancellation.

Get in touch ASAP if you would like it 🙂

06/05/2026

✨️ F A Q s ✨️

Here are the answers to some of our "frequently asked questions"

🤔 Can we provide our own catering?

Absolutely - we don't provide catering, so you are welcome to arrange your own, whether this is a buffet, pizza van or dominos delivery! If you need any help deciding, we do have a list of recommended suppliers to help you.

🤔 Can we use the projector and televisions?

You can! We offer this free of charge to show your own photos, slideshows or videos. All we ask is that you drop in a USB stick 7 days ahead of your event to give us chance to sort this for you.

🤔 Can we have soft play / bouncy castles in the venue?

Soft play is always welcome and we can offer our recommendations in terms of suppliers. Bouncy castles are welcome, however due to the limited ceiling height these do have to be below a certain height.

🤔 Do you allow children in the venue in the evenings?

Children are welcome and can stay as long as they are with a responsible adult.

🤔 Can we bring our own music?

Yes! You are welcome to connect to our sound system via bluetooth if you have your own playlist, and make use of our disco lighting 🕺💃 however, we know that sometimes the DJ makes the party, so we can offer recommendations too!

DM us now to secure your date! 📆

🦊

14/04/2026

06/03/2026

Join us to support this amazing charity event at Fox in the Box on 17th May 2026!

Tickets available via the link below ✨️

https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/106610?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwZFBPam1yZUpNZG8wcTk5RnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5A8G_vrXaPjH9lcqQSe_x1oxkUwSxIC5Dr8hGJvsoXHhWnUpXot7GZrILTJw_aem_Ir1xShx_nH9y1L_iz-6AWw

Calling all little party animals aged 4–8 years old… it’s time to light up the dance floor! 💃🕺 Join us on Sunday 17th May, 2–4pm at Fox in the...