Fox & Hounds Barley in North Hertfordshire

We visited the Fox & Hounds for a birthday lunch. The interior is modern and cosy, the welcome, warm and friendly. The menu is a lovely combination of popular favourites and also more exciting dishes presented with great style. The Thai scotch egg was delicious, as was the Cromer crab on toast. The main courses did not disappoint either, the generous and beautifully cooked calves liver was excellent, as was my wife's hake. Well done to the whole team, an excellent meal from start to finish.

I have heard some rather good reviews about the F&H so was eager to try one of their famous Roast Dinners. I booked online for me & my partner to have a date day. Beautiful establishment, gorgeous pud garden & also great for children. We were seated on a table that was directly opposite the pub garden, with lots of light from the sky light. When we were seated we were offered water for the table, we opted for tap water which was quickly brought out. I ordered a pint of Coke & my partner ordered a cider. We quickly ordered our mains as we didn’t fancy anything from the starters menu. I went for Roast Lamb & my partner ordered Roast Beef. We made sure we didn’t have anything to eat that day to make room for the Roast. Before our manis were brought out we were given homemade mint sauce & horseradish sauce for the table. Then our mains were brought out, plated effortlessly with a Yorkshire Pudding, selected meat, carrot & swede puree & cabbage greens, with gravy/jus. In a separate bowls, we were given our Roast Potatoes & Cauliflower Cheese. We also requested a small jug of gravy at an additional cost. The Roast Lamb was the BEST Roast Lamb I have ever tasted, accompanied by the homemade mint sauce which had a hint of sweetness. The trimmings were just as good. Be prepared for extra crispy Roast Potatoes with a soft inside. A little crispy than I like but that would be my only grumble. My partner ordered Roast also enjoyed his Roast Beef. I opted for a pudding & chose the Blackberry Steamed Pudding with Custard. I didn’t have to wait too long for this to be served to me. The pudding was gorgeous but the custard was a little too thin for me. We will definitely return for another gorgeous Roast Dinner!!

Very disappointed. When away hungry as portion size was small. Roast beef was raw which I wasn't told when ordering. The roast potatoes were undercooked as well. £24 for a small roast beef was not value for money. £4.40 for a coke which didn't have much flavour. Also asked to move tabls as the chairs had very low backs and was told no. Definitely not accessible friendly.

Had had a lovely night. Small coffee ( americano ) and a cheesecake (tasty)over £12

Went for a meal with my wife, really lovely food, she had pork, I had duck. Then we shared a cheesecake mousse. Beautifully presented. Amelia was looking after us and did a fantastic job. All in all, very happy.

Amazing food and drink, friendly staff and lovely inside, would definitely recommend

Amazing food and great hospitality, a perfect Anniversary meal, first time we have visited and we'll certainly be back, 10/10 Fox & Hounds! 3rd visit to them last night, again faultless meal the place to go if you want quality time and time again

Fantastic pub! Not enough pubs like this that serve high-quality, interesting dishes. The guinea fowl was excellent, as were the mussels and the bread & butter pudding dessert. Great location too and the garden is very pleasant. My only gripe would be that they were only serving one local ale (the other wasn't on) and that there isn't much of a whisky selection, but these are small issues. Highly recommended!

The menu was lovely, and the staff were great. We sat in the extension/conservatory area. The doors were open and let in a lovely, welcoming cool breeze. Very up market from the last time we attended. Well worth a visit.

Food was absolutely delicious, went to celebrate our first wedding anniversary and it was the perfect laid back vibe but with amazing food (great value too) and the service was fab, very attentive!

Honestly I cannot visit this place enough. Always friendly, food is 10/10 and it's just a shame I live a bit too fair away to enjoy a drink too

Very very tasty food, also very well presented. Friendly staff. As it was not too busy were happy for us to be sat outside and move inside for desert due to it cooling down a lot.

I think this is my new favourite Sunday roast place. The food was so good and the service very good. The meat was great but the accompanying extras were incredible. Best roasties and cauliflower cheese ever. Or was all great. It's a shame it isn't located closer to where I live. Definitely go

Visited today for Father’s Day. Would have been a nice touch if host or server wished the dad in our group a happy Father’s Day! Didn’t appreciate only roast options and sea bass were available on Sunday (previously had an extensive menu midweek) . Meat servings not overly generous and some odd orange/ yellow veloute creation. Pricey too given location. Servers slow to take away finished plates from mains though. Desserts were good. Overall pricey given location and lacklustre service given restaurant was not overly busy.

The food here is amazing, the staff are very friendly and really attentive.

Lovely pub & restaurant. Great decor & fantastic food. Was just let down a little by the slow and infrequent service, however, the servers were friendly and personable. Basically lack of staff. I know we will be back .

Lovely pub. Beautifully done. We had 2 great starters, really delicious. Meal was let down by the rib eye steak which was seriously underwhelming for £32. Although well cooked and tasty from the charcoal grill, it was very small for the money.

Omg!!! The best roast we’ve all ever had! Hubby says best roast potatoes. Fantastic Yorkshire. All 8 of us loved it all. Veggie roast amazing. Lamb was divine. Plenty of cauliflower cheese. Great puddings. Fantastic staff. Lovely venue. Loved it. Thanks for having us. We will be back

A family lunch in this fabulous pub. Superb Sinday roast, attentive & friendly staff, great value for money.

An excellent gastro pub and probably the best in the area. An interesting and changing menu and priced fairly for the quality of food. Atmosphere is lovely and staff very friendly. Highly recommend

I have never reviewed a place twice but my recent visit to the Fox & Hounds (Barley) necessities the need to shout out about this place again! It’s actually too good. This time every member of staff on shift that day deserves a mention. Our waitress, Amelia, so attentive, so helpful, so kind, so friendly… she may be my daughter but I am not being biased - the professional service we received was outstanding. Her brother was initially disappointed that his favourite Pinanha steak was not available but Amelia advised him to have the Flat Iron Steak and suggested to him how she knew he would like it to be cooked. Afterwards he said it was the best steak he’s ever eaten and refused a dessert as he was completely satisfied with his main meal. The fish & chips, as usual were delicious. Always a thumbs up from Eliza. But, the pièce de résistance was my Gernard fillet & potato dumplings - again correctly advised by Amelia - thank you! OMG!!! Perfection - how does Brett and Charlie manage to make those dumplings so light, but with a slight roast crisp… flipping gorgeous. Brett, Charlie & Alex in the kitchen are absolute magicians! Thank you guys for always making me feel super lucky that we have food, cooked to such a high standard, on our doorstep. We really do appreciate you! And last, but not least, thank you Ricky. Always service with a smile and nothing seems like it’s too much trouble. Obviously I will return… again and again. Just needed to share your awesomeness one more time. xxx

Top end Sunday lunch! We’ve eaten here a few times now, but it’s always been an evening meal. Every time it’s been absolutely delicious. Today was our first time visiting for a Sunday lunch. Every element on the plate was spot on. Sirloin of beef was tender and all vegetables full of colour and crisp. Epic gravy and a mammoth Yorkie too! Dessert was indulgent and again, of a very high standard. We often come with our children too and the standard doesn’t lower on the kids menu either. Feel blessed to have this gem in our local village!

First visit to the Fox and Hounds for several years and was not disappointed. Great service from all the team and a really good Sunday lunch, the beef was cooked to perfection. We will be back soon.

Lovely Pub food a little expensive for what you get but very nice.

Food truly excellent. Fine dining experience at a reasonable price. Love coming here. Never eaten better food.

Excellent local! Great food and company.

Delicious food (we had rabbit & ham hock pie with hispi cabbage and mustard gravy - fabulous) and friendly staff. Great service and nice atmosphere - perfect lunch after a long walk.

First time here lovely pub friendly staff set menu lunch £20 great value excellent food. Beer is good reccomended

We chose to host our wedding reception at the Fox and Hounds as the food is so fantastic and we’ve had always had a great dining experience there. The process was stress free and simple and the staff worked with us every step of the way. We met with the head chef Brett who curated a menu with us for exactly what we wanted. He gave creative suggestions to make the menu as delicious as possible. The front of house manager Ricky helped us with sorting out all the fine details of the day including table plans, decorations, timings, and speeches. He always communicated with us and made things so simple and stress free. We couldn’t have been happier with the food on the day, it was incredible. Many of our guests commented it was the best food they had ever had. And the service was excellent. The staff went above and beyond. The space of the pub worked really well for our wedding. The overall effect with the decorations gave a cosy and atmospheric ambiance. There was also space for the DJ to set up with a dance floor area. Everyone had such a good time. I can’t thank the staff enough. If you are looking to host a wedding or event I absolutely recommend the fox and hounds.

I've wanted to visit for a feed for a while so we decided to drive up and head in on a whim just as the kitchen opened on Saturday evening. Served with fresh ale and sat immediately, we were. What a treat. The pork chop and steak were delectable, as were the sides of tenderstem and carrots. Managed to squeeze in a wedge of the spiced plum tart, which, I reckon, I could eat endlessly. The service, too, was excellent, and the atmosphere relaxed. I could have sat and sipped and nibbled all night, but we had to get home to the mutt. What a beautiful pub and dinner. I look forward to returning.

We were very much looking forward to our celebratory dinner but were unfortunately let down by the very underwhelming lamb main : consisting of just one bitesize lamb cutlet on top of extremely salty and rich lamb shoulder and puy lentil stew for £27. The crab starter and orange mousse hazelnut cake were lovely though. Maybe we have ordered the wrong main as we got very food envied by the tomahawk on another table. They did take in our feedback, apologise and deduct a bit from the bill but I don't think we will return.

Lovely time in this traditional country pub, great food, very good service and friendly atmosphere..will definitely be back

The service we had today at the Fox and Hounds, Barley, was outstanding, accommodating our needs for disabled access, best table and chair as well as disabled bathroom facilities. Nothing was too difficult for them to provide for a comfortable experience for the whole family. We were not wanting for anything. This gastro pub had the warmth and friendliness of an old local pub coupled with the ambiance of a restaurant which served a very tasty menu with quality ingredients and flavours. It was a perfect choice for our family time to celebrate the festive season.

Absolutely incredible meal. A works event and everyone felt the same. Excellent food and wonderful service. Cannot recommend highly enough. 10/10

Lovely menu, food very well presented, staff were so welcoming

One of my favourite restaurants in the local area. The atmosphere is so cozy and warm, service friendly and wholesome, and food incredible. Great to see the open kitchen. We’ve been multiple times and each time the food has been delicious consistently. Great drinks selection too.

Excellent quality and value in the set price lunch at £20.00 Friendly service and pleasant ambiance. Well worth a detour

Beautiful pub, great atmosphere.

Went there for lunch. Menu had good choices. I chose beef short rib with parsnip mash and veg. It was superb, beef cooked to perfection, superb sauce, roasted shallot and kale was very tasty. Will return soon

Delicious food and great service in a beautiful pub.

This pub was recommended by a friend & he wasn’t wrong. Had Sunday lunch & it was absolutely brilliant. The staff are superb, the food was exceptional. Can’t wait to return.

Wow ... had such a nice lunch here. Food was excellent 👌

Best pub around Cambridge - a must visit. Biggest complement is that everything is consistently 5*. Our favourite pub by a long way. Food is fantastic, service is always top draw and a superb cosy atmosphere. Also dog friendly!

Absolutely love it here. Sunday roast to die for and the cod......I have no words apart from yum!!!

Excellent Sunday Roast in a homely setting

I will say the outside of this pub doesn't give a hint to the spectacular food and service within. We had rushed into a local place (not here) about 30 minutes prior and we had bad feelings about it, when we grabbed the menus (sticky) our mind was made up. Even thought we were starving we rushed out without ordering. A quick look at local restaurants on the phone came up with this pub. We drove over and walked in. The interior was lovely, clean and easy on the eyes. A gent at the bar walked us to a table and we ordered drinks. They came so fast we thought he had them in his pocket. We ordered the sour dough bread and butter. It was GLORIOUS. We were excited for the main meal which was a Brisket burger. OMG!!! I am 55 years old....this goes down as the best burger I have ever had. Thick, juicy and cooked to perfection. Fries were hot and delicious. Service was great, food was great. I even personally thanked the chefs when I left (I'm the American chap who said "awesome food") Don't change your staff, don't change your food. Keep it up!!! 10/10

Beautiful rustic country pub with excellent food and wine. Had a lovely meal here this evening with some friends

Enjoyed a fabulous Sunday roast at this delightful pub. Good choice and suggested drinks partners with the courses. The Basil Collins was refreshing. This is the second time we've come for Sunday lunch but have decided to return one evening to sample a different menu. Highly recommend, great service too.

From when you walk in, it feels like home. Lovely decor and staff very welcoming. Food was delicious. Our frst visit, looking forward to seeing you again soon.

We have eaten here before and we weren’t disappointed this time either. The food was just delicious, everything cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. Not only that the service you get from the team was excellent. If you enjoy good food cooked well then eat here….

Had a beautiful meal here with my sisters, I had the lamb shoulder, both my sisters had the fish and chips, all very nice, thank you... they also had vegan ice cream which I believe is a must in restaurants..

This is an excellent pub. The food was fist class and the service was exemplary. Great for the kids too. Highly recommend.

A great place to eat and drink. Although the food is on the pricier side for a pub the food is quality and the girls service was spot on, we didn't need to leave our table at all. 5*

Disappointing menu, my friend and I found it hard to pick something. Didn't feel summery and nothing light other than sandwiches. Had a caeser salad and the dressing was just lumped on top, huge anchovies which were too strong. Sadly disappointed

An exemplary re-invention of the country pub with superb food that shows just the right degree of elaboration on familiar classics. No bizarre (con)fusion or wilful dissonance. The chef, Brett Barnes, has a most impressive pedigree and we should be most grateful that he has brought his skills & experience to this delightful rural outpost. The atmosphere is convivial and welcoming whilst being refreshingly professional. You get the impression that someone is actually in charge. If you can, take advantage of the mid week lunchtime fixed price menu which is tremendous value. A sensible wine list with affordable opening prices. Outdoor dining on sheltered banquettes or tables with parasols arranged arround a raised bed in which grows a supply of fresh herbs that the kitchen brigade pick at will. All with a view of a most splendid Modern house next door; an architectural gem. The only sour note, absolutely nothing to do with the Fox & Hounds, is that the vicinity of Barley has a particularly aggressive presence of speed cameras, one at each end of the village. Take care if you don’t want to be criminalised for exceeding 30mph as you approach & exit. Most unwelcoming!

Friday night dinner for family . A lovely table and excellent service. Table next to us were a little noisy so we were able to sit outside for dessert. Lovely food. Highly recommend.

Really amazing place to eat, drank and chill. Had more of a sampler, so looking forward to trying a min dish or better still, a wine pairing dinner.

Best gastro pub food and service in the area by a long way. Really good drinks list too and generally a stunning pub in a beautiful village.

I dine and drink at the Fox & Hounds often and every time I have an outstanding meal, I always intend to leave a review because this place is too good to not shout about it. Ashamedly, this is my first review! So, yesterday’s lunch was nothing short of sheer perfection! I had the ‘asparagus, crispy hen’s egg, mint hollandaise & pea shoots’ and a ‘Caesar salad’ all washed down with a large glass of the house white wine. Strawberries, vanilla cream & shortbread followed my light lunch and I then proceeded to make my way through a few after-lunch cocktails! The cocktails were completely unplanned but the food is so delicious, the service superb and the ambience is so warm that I didn’t want to leave. There’s always a slight, interesting and delicious spin on all of the dishes I have tried. Their Caesar salad isn’t just a Caesar salad… it’s accompanied by the freshest, tastiest chives from their herb garden. There’s lavender sugar on their shortbread… there’s a spear of toasted popcorn on their heavy crystal cocktail glasses! There’s additional delicate touches everywhere; literally everything tastes better at the Fox and Hounds. Thank you to the entire team - you are a magic bunch!!! I realise how utterly lucky I am to live so close by - I can either leave the car at home or in their car park meaning I can return for lunch the next day. Thank you, thank you, thank you and please do not stop what you’re doing because it’s utter perfection xxx

Lovely village pub very friendly and the food is good.

We were staying nearby and decided to eat out again. We had already eaten at a nearby pub/restaurant which was very good, but decided on another pub nearby that had an interesting menu. Was initially worried by it having a Michelin awarded chef, as, never having eaten in one before, thought it might be too intimidating. However, we were greated by the "host" and ordered pre-dinner drinks and then shown to our table. The kitchen is in full view of the diners and it was fascinating watching the chefs prepare the meals in an efficient and calm manner. The menu choice was not overwhelming, with a good selection to satisfy our party. We all had the Nibbles as starters, a main course and dessert. The food was absolutely perfect, portion size, appearance and taste were beyond expectation. The best meal I have ever had to date. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Go to choice for excellent food in relaxing surroundings & attentive staff

Only went in for a pre-walk coffee, but a nice country environment with an interesting menu.

A great cosy pub with brilliant food! Beers & cocktails on offer were brilliant :) Will be returning soon!

This traditional village pub has had an extensive refurbishment offering attractive areas to eat and drink inside and outside. The food is fine dining and it is more expensive than the average pub but well worth. We just visited for a coffee break and light bites. The sourdough bread and garlic butter were the best I have ever tasted and my husband's dessert and coffee were excellent.

Lovely ambience, friendly helpful service and a good menu. Very helpful and resourceful in providing a vegetarian gluten free option whilst others in our group chose steaks. Starters and snacking options were good and my shellfish soup was exemplary. My preference in steaks is always fillet but the option wasn't there and the choice was limited to rib eye or onglet. My instinct was to go for the onglet which is not a traditional steak but one I have enjoyed before. I was persuaded (by our group) to go for the ribeye. It wasn't a good decision, no complaints but not to my taste.In future I'll stick to fillet or a burger😃 . Limited vegetable side options. However a great evening at a great pub.

80th birthday celebration for Sunday lunch with a party of 7. Food was so delicious and staff could not be more attentive, especially McKenzie.

I was recommended to try this bistro pub by by Airbnb host and it was a good choice; clean, airy, with low beams and a buzz, I found service to be highly efficient, food selection, quality, portion size and price all good. The manager / Maitre d' - South African I believe - was friendly, efficient and looks to run a good operation here. The rhubarb pavlova in particular was excellent and worth a visit in itself.

Have been going to this pub and restaurant most weekends with my friend and it’s been wonderful every time! Lovely staff but specifically the manager and the waitresses. Such a cozy environment and will definitely be returning regularly. Highly recommend if you are looking for a pleasant and chilled afternoon with delicious food and unique drinks that they create themselves with their own recipe! :)

Amazing food, lovely beer to boot! Lots of people in the area rave about this pub and they’re right.

Saturday afternoon on a cold March day! We walked into this pub which was so cosy and welcoming with two fires lit. We were warmly greeted by the staff who offered us a table for two by the log burner… perfect for us! The pub is really lovely inside, spacious and really nicely decorated, but retaining such beamed charm and many eating areas to dine in. Mackenzie our table waiter was really friendly, chatty and knowledgeable with his recommendation of wine… French Rose, superb! Our food was truly delicious. Mackenzie was happy to chat and tell us about the pub and the the fabulous Sunday Roasts too… we look forward to taking the family sometime soon. We both really enjoyed our Saturday afternoon lunch at this really friendly pub with superb service... Thank you for looking after us Mackenzie.

A very pleasant, traditional pub in a beautiful village. The staff were friendly, helpful and accommodating.

Amazing quality food and excellent service

Best food I've eaten for a long while! 😋

We had an absolutely delicious lunch here today. There was just the right amount of time in between each course. The staff were friendly and efficient. The food was so good… we all had different dishes and couldn’t fault any. We’ll be back.

We had the best Sunday Roast at the Fox and Hounds. We will definitely be back. Food was so tasty, all staff were attentive and knowledgeable. Thanks for a great meal

Highly recommend. Great menu with wonderful friendly service.

Another lovely Saturday lunch. Good food, good service and lovely atmosphere.

Tucked away in a village near Royston, this gastropub did not disappoint. Our party of four chose the excellent value set lunch. My mussels were fat, juicy and in a terrific cream, garlic and pancetta sauce, whilst my companions enjoyed a roast celeriac with goat's...

Excellent food and great atmosphere...staff were brilliant

Amazing food and service yet again from this wonderful establishment.

Great food attentive staff, lovely pub

Geweldige ontvangst in een prachtige zaak. Ik voelde me er dadelijk thuis en welkom. De chef bezorgde me een menu...

Had a great time. The venue is great, food was really good, loved the unusual scotch egg and the main dishes we had were all delicious. Would definitely come back if on the route

Recommended by friends; prices a bit toppy; whilst the other diners in our group really enjoyed their meals, I ordered the pork ribeye and suffered all night the consequences...

Mixed bag, really. Very friendly staff. But prices are steep though I appreciate that's rather a sign of the times. But not sure that £4.50 for bread is justified. My chips were inedible due to so much salt, but my wife's fish was lovely. Beer was okay but not cellar temperature. We hadn't eaten here for a year or two, and can only conclude that there are better choices locally.

Very tasty gastropub, our table was well looked after.

Best Sunday roast I've ever tried in a long time. The food was quality, free range chicken was roasted to perfection and all the treamings was outstanding. It melts in your mouth, enjoyed every sec of having my food. The staffs are very kind and helpful. Worth every penny i spent here. I would highly recommend to anyone out there.

Deep fried green tomatoes with a parmesan crumb coating were to die for

A beautiful pub, and a lovely atmosphere. My partner really enjoyed the menu, we had a set menu on a Friday. However on the menu there was a complete lack of anything vegetarian let alone vegan, and the two fish dishes on the set menu were basically the same thing. A little bit more variation in the menu and better menu planning would be appreciated. I would love to come back but I wouldn’t like to have to eat the same fish dish twice in a row. The wine was excellent

Food was excellent and team even better. Well done, you are very much worth a visit.

Delicious roasts and excellent service 👍

Busy atmosphere good food. Lunch menu excellent value 2 course £16.

It surprises me how many places I visit failed at serving a traditional Sunday lunch. The Fox and Hounds didn’t disappoint. I am however very keen to eat here during the week or on a Saturday to experience their extended menu, but so far so...

Disappointed…… miserable bar staff, no continuity with waiting staff. Staff need to pay more attention to detail and try smiling. Food was nice and well presented shame about the service.

Lovely place, great food, but Soda Lime £3.... Nope... As bikers can't drive - drive. Dearest place in 12 years for soda

Excellent roast Sunday lunch as before. Good attentive but not intrusive service. A good choice of starters and sweets compliment the main course. Lovely food. Fair pricing

So lucky that I live just down the road from the Fox, best pub food I have ever had and consistently excellent food and service 🥂 it is a higher price point than other local pubs but you really do get what you pay for,...

So lucky that I live just down the road from the Fox, best pub food I have ever had and consistently excellent food and service 🥂 it is a higher price point than other local pubs but you really do get what you pay for, this place is head and shoulders above the rest!

Lovely food. Accomodating staff. Lovely venue