Heverlee 0623
Heverlee 0623

About us

Colin Keatley opened the Fat Cat Pub in 1991. However, his career began back in 1965, where, at the age of just 15, he worked for his father behind the bar of The Roundhouse, Covent Garden, London. Four years later, between 1969-71, Colin began working as a relief manager for Scottish and Newcastle brewery. During this time Colin worked in over 30 different pubs and bars in London and the south of England.

In 1971, ages 21, Colin became one of the youngest licensees in Great Britain when he took over the New Savoy Tavern, opposite the prestigious Savoy Hotel on the Strand. This gave Colin his first proper taste of being a pub landlord. This is where Colin met his future wife Marjie. After around 8 years in the New Savoy Tavern they deiced to move to Norfolk.

Colin and Marjie spent a couple of years doing various different things, including running a sandwich shop called Fryer Tucks. This, however, did not last long and in 1980 they bought the White Lion on Oak Street.

Real ale was having a renaissances in Norwich at the time and Colin took full advantage of this by launching The White Lion as a traditional real ale pub. The White Lion was very successful and Colin began to make a name for himself in Norwich with real ale enthusiasts. Many of the customers in The White Lion are regulars in The Fat Cat today! In 1988, now with 3 children, Colin and Marjie sold the White Lion.

During the next 3 years Colin and Marjie took on two leasehold pubs with Greene King and Adnams brewery.

In 1991 they bought the New Inn pub, West End Street, Norwich. Which, at the time, was a run-down back street pub crying out to be converted back into a traditional real ale pub….and that’s what they did. The Pub was re-named The Fat Cat and the rest is history…

20+ years later The Fat Cat is renowned as being one of the most successful real ale pubs in Great Britain. Winning many national awards. More recently Colin and Marjie have bought 2 more pubs in Norwich; The Fat Cat Brewery Tap and The Fat Cat & Canary. They also opened The Fat Cat Brewery in 2005. The full range of Fat Cat Brewery beers are available in all three pubs.

Since 1991 The Fat Cat has won Camra Norfolk and Norwich Pub of the Year four times (1998, 2004, 2012 and 2014). The pub has gone on to win Camra National Pub of the Year twice (1998 and 2004). The Fat Cat has also won The Good Pub Guide Beer Pub of the Year a record five times! (1998, 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2014). The Fat Cat, The Fat Cat Brewery Tap and The Fat Cat & Canary have all been included in Camra’s Good Beer Guide 2014.

To be continued….

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Real aleCamra members
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Reviews

Paul Sutton-Adam

3 months ago

I’ve been going here for over 35 years, though not as often as I would like as I live far away. It remains one of my top five pubs in the country. Always a high quality range of ales, well kept and perfectly served in the correct shaped glass by brilliant staff. They allow and welcome dogs, a key point for me. Try as I may, I’m unable to find any fault. Apart from my recent visit where I noticed ‘Greene King Abbot’. This in my mind an abomination, as this Massive corporation, Chinese owned, holds such an exclusive grip on many pubs in my area and others, that I’ll not enter their pubs let alone drink their mass produced ‘pelch’.

Andrew Nell

7 months ago

The fat cat is a traditional street corner pub, more than that it is a great pub. Deservedly regularly featured in the campaign for Real ales good beer guide. It has a fantastic range of top quality Cask conditioned real ales, and an excellent selection of ciders and bottled beers. The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. This cosy pub has an interesting display of old pub memorabilia and is always busy when I have called in. This is favourite pub in Norwich, highly recommended.

Steve Crawford

7 months ago

What can I say about the Fat cat that's not been said before? Excellent all round. Cheaper, and better, than average beer. Massive selection and good company. A proper good place

Andy Wright

8 months ago

Great pub and worth the trip away from the city centre. Fantastic large selection of ales and craft beers on tap. Plenty of seating and character. Highly recommend if you're a beer lover but its a cracking pub too if you're not.

Jaki Irving

8 months ago

What a great pub, I visited a friend & she took me to her local. I can see why she loves it.

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Opening Times

Mon12:00 – 23:00
Tue12:00 – 23:00
Wed12:00 – 23:00
Thur12:00 – 00:00
Fri12:00 – 00:00
Sat11:00 – 00:00
Sun12:00 – 23:00
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Heverlee 0623
Heverlee 0623