Mark Hix closes the Fox Inn

Chef Mark Hix has announced the closure of his Dorset pub, the Fox Inn, due to rising costs and staff shortages.

In a post on Instagram, Hix said: “There’s no easy way to start this post. I know that I don’t need to tell anyone how hard it has been for everyone in the industry since Covid hit, and the challenges simply continue with rising costs and a difficulty to recruit like I have never known in my whole career.

“And so, with a heavy heart, it is time to permanently close the doors of the Fox Inn. I won’t be making a big press announcement; we will simply close the doors after lunch service on 17 July. But I wanted to personally contact our guests and followers to let you know first, as you have all been such a great support over the last two years since I started to rebuild my life in Dorset.”

Chef-restaurateur Hix took on the lease of the 17th-century, Grade II-listed pub in Corscombe, in 2020. The pub is owned by local and friend of Hix, Eva Harvey, who bought it in 2012 to save it from being turned into housing.

Between 2008 and 2020 Hix operated restaurants including Hix Oyster & Chop House, Hixter, Tramshed, Mark's Bar and Hix Soho in London and Hix Oyster & Fish House in his native Dorset. The restaurants fell into administrationdue to the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Hix still operates an oyster and fish truck in Morcombelake in June selling wet fish and seafood from Lyme Bay Reserve fishermen, and the Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis.

Staffing shortages across the sector have seen some restaurants forced to close or restrict trading. The number of hospitality job vacancies hit 174,000 last month and the loss of business resulting from reduced trading is estimated to have cost the industry £21b in lost revenue.

Meanwhile, rising costs are making it more difficult for hospitality businesses to cover their bills, with energy price hikes exceeding 200% being reported by hospitality companies.