Please click here for a map showing the Fat Cat's location
The White Lion was completely revamped, into a three room pub, with one central, triangular bar area serving the whole pub. It became a byword in Norwich for providing a better choice and quality of ale and was snapped up by the Tap & Spile chain of pubs to be their Norwich flagship outlet.
Other successful ventures were to follow, with Colin & Marjie cementing their popularity with Norwich drinkers at The Pottergate Tavern and St. Andrew's Tavern, on a leasehold basis.
Not wanting to be tied down by the terms of a lease, Colin was on the lookout for a new freehold property and, in 1991, purchased The New Inn, on West End Street. The pub was a run-down, tatty, former Courage outlet — better known for its sticky carpet and after-hours service than for its beer!
Colin & Marjie closed the pub for six months, to allow free rein to the creative genius of master renovator, Willy Moles. Willy ripped out the old fittings and furnishings, making space for a tap room and realising his and Colin's vision of a starker, darker, yet somehow more comfortable drinking environment. With red and black paint still wet to the touch (an innovation still used to this day) The Fat Cat opened its doors to the public in autumn 1991.
On that first day, a choice of 12 beers was offered to the thirsty throng. No jukebox; no darts, or pool; no electronic games machines — Colin & Marjie wanted nothing to distract from the simple enjoyment of drinking good beer, in the company of friends. The success of this format, allied to Colin's obsession with cleanliness on both sides of the bar, has led to a steady increase in the numbers of people visiting The Fat Cat. Colin, as a result of the pub's popularity, has been able to regularly increase the number and variety of products on offer. In addition to an average choice of 26 real ales, The Fat Cat now boasts of 6 draught Belgian beers; 25 bottled Belgian beers; 4 lagers; 3 ciders and a German weissbeer. A choice of 8 wines, from around the world, is complemented by 11 fruit wines, whilst whisky buffs have a small, but well-chosen, selection of Scottish single malts to pick from.
Whilst Colin & Marjie built a countrywide reputation for the quality of both the beer and the atmosphere at The Fat Cat, they waited seven years for their achievements to be recognised. Their reward came in 1998 with, not one, but two national awards. The Good Pub Guide compilers were the first to come forward, naming The Fat Cat as 'Best Beer Pub' for the year. This prestigious award was followed, a few months later, by the ultimate accolade, as the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) voted The Fat Cat its overall winner in its nationwide Pub of the Year contest. Standards have never been allowed to slip and, in 2003, The Fat Cat regained its position as The Good Pub Guide's 'Beer Pub of the Year'.
Most recently of all, in 2004, Colin & Marjie have made history, by steering The Fat Cat to become the first pub ever to win the CAMRA National Pub of the Year award for a second time!
Here stands the tale of one of Britain's best-loved ale-houses. Come and help us write the next chapter!
