Where is The Sly Old Fox?

The Sly Old Fox is at 54-56 Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TD. Within Southside / The Chinese Quarter and next to The Arcadian.

In brief

A theatre bar established in 1891 opposite the Birmingham Hippodrome. Originally called The Old Fox, it was built by James & Lister Lea from 1891 to 1892. It became The Sly Old Fox in 2019, after a redecoration of the pub. The Arcadian was built behind the pub in the early 1990s.

The Sly Old Fox from Hurst Street (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

The Sly Old Fox - history

The Old Fox was built on Hurst Street around 1891 to 1892 by James & Lister Lea.

The pub has been integrated into The Arcadian since it was built during 1990 to 1992.

It is a Theatre Bar directly opposite of the Birmingham Hippodrome.

On the other side of Hurst Street is the Back to Backs run by the National Trust, you can see the pub from Inge Street.

The Old Fox from Inge Street (June 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

Every January / February, the pub is decorated in Chinese lanterns for the annual Chinese New Year festivities in Southside.

The Old Fox from Hurst Street (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

The Old Fox has been refurbished and redecorated over the years.

But in 2019, the pub was renamed to The Sly Old Fox, and given a grey paint job, unlike the old cream look.

As of 2022, a Hippodrome Square is being built (as part of the Public Realm), but workers were tarmacing the road surface opposite as of late May 2022.

The Sly Old Fox from Hurst Street (May 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

The Sly Old Fox can be seen from the 1st and 2nd floors at the Birmingham Back to Backs in the exhibitions rooms above the 2nd hand book shop.

The Sly Old Fox from the Back to Backs (February 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

Contact details

The Sly Old Fox

54-56 Hurst Street

Birmingham

B5 4TD