Aldergrove pub pours on the charm for Hallmark production

The familiar brickwork and timber beams of Fox & Hounds Pub is set to appear on the screen once again, as the longtime Aldergrove establishment hosted a filming crew this week for a new Hallmark production. Owner of the pub Jeff Paul said the pub was approached by a locations scouts for the film with a working title “Christmas in Blue Dog Valley.” While the title may change before the films release, Paul shared that the temporary closing of the restaurant from May 25 to 27 brought upon regular customers’ inquiries and curiosity. “We put it out on our [social media] channels to let people know that we’re not open,” Paul explained. “At the same time, that creates a lot of interest to them like, ‘Oh, what movie? When is it going to be on?’” Paul and his wife Debbie have operated the family-run pub since 1993, with their sons also involved in the business while growing up and completing university in Langley. Paul recalled how the Fox & Hounds has garnered interest as a filming location during the past several years, particularly for holiday Hallmark movies.

He estimates the pub has hosted around half a dozen productions so far, especially as Aldergrove has grown to be a popular site for film and TV productions. The appeal comes down to the character of the pub and community. “It’s the unique character of a British-style pub,” he described. “The brickwork, the beams, the colours, the bar setup — from their production standpoint, it’s better for them to go and rent a space than to try to build a set.” The film crews took over the establishment for a couple of days, arriving before midnight and working around the clock to set up.

Despite all the hard work, a filming location may only briefly be visible on the screen. “They may rent our whole establishment for the whole day,” Paul said. “All this action, all these people, all these set designs, and then the pub will be in the film for eight minutes,” laughed Paul. Most recently, the pub was transformed into a winter scene during the warm spring temperatures outside. “They had a truck show up with a truckload of snow,” added Paul. “They were shovelling snow on the trees, landscaping, and on the roof of the pub. It’s quite interesting to see.” Although film productions may only take over the pub for a few days each year, Paul sees them as another part of the Fox & Hounds’ long history in the community. “We like to say that the Fox & Hounds is the common living room of the community,” he said. “A lot of people in Aldergrove have spent different stages of their life there.”