Royal Wedding Celebration Set for Fox and Hounds British Pub in Brandon

Can’t make the royal wedding celebration on the streets of London? Neither can Tracey Adelhouser, proprietor of the Fox and Hounds British Pub in Brandon, which is a far cry from her native home in England.

But that doesn’t mean Adelhouser, an Ipswich native, can’t bring the April 29 celebration to Brandon, which is exactly what she plans to do with large-screen viewing and free hors d’oeuvres.

What happens live at Westminster Abbey is, by the clock, six hours earlier in Brandon, which doesn’t make for a great time for a live viewing of the festivities at the pub at 229 East Brandon Boulevarad.

“We couldn’t serve drinks at 4 a.m. even if we wanted to,” Adelhouser said.

Instead, Adelhouser plans to tape the wedding and re-broadcast it for patrons at around 5 p.m. She’ll be dressed in a nice pants outfit serving free hors d’oeuvres, including English pastries and sausage rolls. Also on tap is a contest in recognition of the hat as an important fashion accessory for women at English weddings. The person donning the best hat wins $100.

“I’d like to create a wedding reception type atmosphere,” Adelhouser said.  “It’s a fairy tale wedding and people love a fairy tale.”  

Adelhouser moved to America in 1994. 

She still remembers the street parties in England that marked the July 29, 1981 wedding of Charles, the Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana. The scene is repeating itself again this year with the wedding of their son, William, to Kate Middleton.

“I’ve talked to my mom there, and it’s as big there as the Charles and Diana wedding,” Adelhouser said. “People are planning street parties everywhere. I wish I could be there but we are having this party so we can bring a little of that atmosphere to Florida.”

Adelhouser and her husband, Bill, acquired the Fox and Hounds in March and .

“This is an icon in Brandon, one of the older buildings,” she said. “I lived here for 16 years and I’ve worked at Raccoons [in Valrico, at 3240 Lithia Pinecrest Road] for 16 years, and I always wanted to own my own pub.”

Looking forward, the pub on May 22 is set to host a battle- of the-bands fundraiser to help support Jackson Laskowski, 4, in his fight against liver cancer. The event also will include a children’s play area, face-painting, pig roast and raffles.

The pub on Mondays hosts a dart league; on Tuesdays, an open jam; on Wednesdays, trivia night and music by Sucker Punch; on Thursdays, bike night. The bar is open 11 a.m.-3 a.m. daily. Live musics is played 5 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday.