The Black Cat, Chesham

Can't say for certain - but a local said it had permanently closed down. I had tried to phone beforehand but the number from Google was not live. Walked past on a Saturday afternoon - post lockdown - and there was no indication it was opening any time soon.

Official site of The Black Cat - www.blackcatchesham.co.uk

Official site of The Black Cat - www.blackcatchesham.co.uk

A country pub in the sticks outside Chesham town itself. Despite a largish car park and decent-sized beer garden, this is in essential a small, rectangular single-barred room: the walls decorated with black cat paraphernalia, pump clips and breweriana. Limited table and chair seating opposite the bar with four further tables to the bar's left by an open fireplace. Carpeted floor by the bar with tiles to the right. Exposed beams and third-height wood panelling. A framed 7-inch single of 'Unchained Melody' by ex-disc jockey Jimmy Young was also spotted on one wall. Deathly quiet on my Saturday arvo visit - an 80s / 90s soft rock playlist was a tad overload in the background and a TV screened BT Sports results programme on mute which gave me the opportunity to raise my head occasionally to check latest scores. A stack of board games was piled up on a table underneath. Three ales on - TT Landlord, Young's Bitter and something called Pitchfork Goldbine - a hoppy, golden ale for £3.90 a pint which was in good form. They also had CW Bombardier "Glorious English" on keg. My previous visit here was on a cosy but bustling Sunday afternoon - they make much espousing of their Sunday roasts - so this visit was a tad underwhelming, but it's still a beaut and worth a visit out of Chesham.