Excitement is starting to build as a new sandwich bar and deli is set to open its doors soon.
The Hungry Fox, a sandwich bar and deli, is set to open on Abbey Street in May, serving takeaway pies, sandwiches and more. Deli items are set to be served at a later date.
Owner Paul Fox, who already owns The Crafty Fox bar on the same street, did not always plan to use the site as an eatery.
Initially, he planned to use the site as a bigger kitchen area to prepare more food for Crafty Fox customers.
He said: “This is an extension of The Crafty but on a slightly smaller scale. Originally, we just needed a bigger kitchen and extra room so we built a bigger kitchen.
“Then plans evolved and we decided to open it as a deli and sandwich shop.”
Paul says the area is in need of a sandwich shop and deli after seeing an influx of customers ordering food, especially the pies, from his flagship bar.
He said: “We thought the area was lacking a nice sandwich shop. We also had a lot of customers asking us for pies and other food items to take away.
“Our pies are really successful and their popularity has gone off the scale.
“In the future I have dreams of submitting our pies into competitions to see if they can secure an award.”
Paul says all of the food at the venue will be homemade and fresh. Chefs will not be cutting corners with prebought packets of produce and plans to cook whole joints of meat to turn into ham.
Paul admits that he was worried about launching a new business venture with the looming threat of the cost of living crisis but says the project is a labour of love that he hopes will thrive.
He said: “The cost of living crisis has been a worry for us and was a concern when we initially looked at expanding.
“Hopefully the cost of living crisis is stabilising now but we have been very busy and our sales are up.
“We have to adapt to survive to ensure a profitable turnover and keep our staff in jobs.
“We have some talented chefs in the team [and I want to showcase their talents].”
“This project is 12 months in the making. It has been a bit of a community venture and something we have created an ad hoc basis over the last year.”
Paul has ambitious plans for both of his businesses and hopes to expand into other derelict sites on the street in the future.
He said: “I am looking forward to getting started. We put a lot of thought and planning into everything we do.
“I love having businesses in the town and think one day it will thrive again.
“Hopefully, In five years’ time the street will be nice and busy with plenty of shops cafes, bars and restaurants.”
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