Exeter pub opens in bid to return building to former glory

A new pub has opened in Exeter, more than six months after the building suffered devastating flood damage. The manager has vowed to restore the premises to its "former glory".

Months after signs appeared in the window of a pub building on Fore Street advertising "your new local", The Sly Fox has now opened. It replaces The Arcade bar, which closed in October 2023 after the premises was damaged by torrential rain a month prior. Owner Damien Sluman is continuing to search for a new venue to relocate to, even after initial plans to move to Sidwell Street fell through.

The Sly Fox opened for a soft launch last Friday (June 7) and manager Abby Lough says it has already been received well by locals. She says she is also pleased to have become part of the community on Fore Street, which is best-known for its collection of independent businesses.

Abby told DevonLive: "We opened last Friday for a soft launch. The locals are lovely. On Fore Street, it's all independent businesses so it's just so nice to be a part of it. It's like a real community round here. It went quite well, it's been nice and steady. I was in last night and there was never an alone moment."

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Having worked in pubs before, Abby says she "jumped at the chance" to take on the historic building. She said: "I've worked in the pub industry before and my staff are brilliant, they've got tonnes of experience.

"We saw it was available and just jumped at the chance. It's such a lovely building, it's got so much history. We just jumped at the chance to restore it to its former glory."

The flood damage has now been repaired and Abby says they are now planning to refurbish the building. The pub is currently only open on the ground floor but it's hoped that it will eventually reopen with another bar.

Abby said: "We're working towards refurbishing it. We're just open on the ground floor at the moment and we're hoping to have a grand re-opening of the first floor. We're going to create a secondary bar up there and maybe rent it out for private events.

The Sly Fox is primarily serving drinks with bar snacks but Abby says they hope to partner with local businesses to offer some additional food. The pub will also be showing the Euros which kicks off tonight (June 14).