A meal worthy of the Ritz at Hereford's Fox's Lair restaurant

The Fox's Lair Restaurant, at the White Lodge Hotel in Hereford's Ledbury Road prided itself on serving up Cordon Bleu cookery, without a chip or a pea on sight.

At the helm were Neville and Brenda Murphy, who took the hotel on in September 1983, embarking on a serious of renovations.

Brenda and Neville Murphy in the dining room at the Fox's Lair. Picture: Hereford Times (Image: Hereford Times)

In a dining room boasting wood panelling, mirrored walls, and "a charming Jacobean fireplace", diners were served their dishes on Royal Worcester porcelain with silver cutlery laid on linen tableclothes.

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But despite offering food and an atmosphere aimed at rivalling London's top hotels, former King Edward VII Hospital dietician Mr Murphy was determined to offer good value too, with a starter, main course, pudding, and coffee with mints or chocolates coming in at £6.20 in 1985.

Adrian, Neville, and Brenda Murphy at the Fox's Lair. Picture: Hereford Times (Image: Hereford Times)

"It is the cheapest table d'hote meal in town," said Mr Murphy in 1985, pointing out that the hotel, with its lawns to the rear, was the perfect setting for a wedding reception.

With all food cooked to order, booking was essential at the Fox's Lair, whose owner Mr Murphy had cooked for Sir Geoffrey Howe and Ronnie Corbett.

Dishes on the menu included beef Sir Richard; brandy seared beef with wine cream sauce, Sussex smokes; smoked haddock in cheese sauce and a vol au vent, Hereford chicken, braised in apple and liqueur sauce, and veal Viennese, braised in cream and liqueur sauce.