Johnny Foxes gears up for big party night to celebrate 25 years in Inverness
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A BAR that has evolved to become a city institution is set to celebrate being 25 years young – and to do it in some style.
Johnny Foxes’ big gala night this Friday (May 6) is already being billed as the social highlight of 2022, and with exuberant host Don Lawson at the controls, who would expect anything less?
He explained that the black tie event for 400 guests is more than just marking how, on May 5, 1997, a former Stakis Steakhouse on Bank Street opened as an Inverness bar, restaurant, live music venue and nightclub that was to become known worldwide.
He said: “We had planned some sort of event to mark the end of two horrible years under the pandemic. It has been really a tough time for everyone, not least the hospitality industry, and we felt we deserved a party.
“When we realised it coincided with our launch 25 years ago that was it – a double celebration. It is great that we have come through what was a terrible two years and we can let our hair down a bit.”
The big night will have a fully fledged casino up from Glasgow with professional croupiers, and all proceeds will go to the Ukrainian Children Charitable Foundation.
Mr Lawson said: “I like to support good causes with our events, and what could be better than helping this brave country?”
“All the movers and shakers will be there along with Foxes friends and regulars,” Mr Lawson said.
“Several councillors have been invited, and it being the day after the council elections some will be celebrating while others perhaps will be drowning their sorrows,” he said.
Mr Lawson was chief executive of Aviemore Mountain Resort when he made the move to the licensed trade with his company Emerald Inns Ltd, and he quickly built up Johnny Foxes to a multi-award winning venture including twice being Scottish Bar of the Year.
He is proud that Foxes is a traditional Highland bar serving good food and also has live music virtually every night of the year, plus a lively cocktail and nightclub scene with The Den.
“Last Saturday we served 199 diners and there cannot be too many places in town that did that,” he said.
Mr Lawson was a pioneer of later opening hours in the town, and now Foxes is open until 3am some nights.
He was also a founding member of Pubwatch, the network set up to allow member bars to alert each other to any trouble going on.
“There are 42 members now and it has made bars a much safer environment now,” he said.
