Beer & food focus: Cunning at the Fox

It probably shouldn't be too much of a surprise that Ron Blackmore, licensee of the Fox in Bury St Edmunds is something of a beer evangelist. Prior to taking on the tenancy with Greene King Pub Partners, Ron was quality manager for Greene King Brewing Company.

Since taking over the pub, in the Suffolk brewer's home town, he has seen sales of wine at the Fox increase by 100 per cent, but encouragingly sales of cask beer have also grown, by more then 25 per cent.

One reason for this success is Ron's enthusiasm for matching beer with food. "Wine with food has been too much of a focal point for the last fifteen years - at the expense of beer," he says. "There is a great opportunity to link the real British flavours of beer with some of the subtle and strong flavours of a variety of foods"

Ron believes that credible beer and wine lists work together to help enhance a pub menu. "The Fox concentrates on fresh food and local suppliers. We want to link our focus on quality food with quality beer.

"My own interest is beer led rather a wine because of my background and my personal interest. It's important to me that I have the finest cask ales. I'm always converting customers to beer with food.

"It's amazing the impact you can make on peoples perceptions by introducing them to Old Speckled Hen with beef Wellington, Suffolk Strong with a chocolate dessert or Abbot Ale with the cheese board.

One of Ron's favourite combinations is Greene King IPA with spicy dishes. While curry is an obvious choice, the Fox's own vegetarian spinach and egg taglitelle with Thai vegetables is a spicy dish which complements IPA extremely well.

"Hop with chicken or fish also works very well. You can really play around with Hop for flavours. Most good quality chicken and fish dishes complement it - it's a very versatile beer."