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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Fat Cat, Kelham Island, Sheffield
Sheffield
S3 8SA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Fat Cat
I called in here yesterday as part of a five pub celebration of Beer Day Britain, a strangely named day seemingly timed to coincide with Fathers Day. Anyway, the two beers I had were both very good, and when the friend I had arranged to meet at the Sheffield Tap this evening proposed meeting here instead I wasn't at all reluctant to change. I started with a different beer from the two I had last night, Wensleydale Division Bell, a 3.7% pale with sabro and sorachi hops; for the next round I went for one of Sunday night's beers, the Deeply Vale Citra Storm, a 4% pale; and then another from Sunday, the Tatton Brewery Golden Green, a 4.3% pale with citra and jester hops. I rated all three NBSS 4. This pub has been through a torrid few years, following the death of the owner and founder of the Kelham Island Brewery, Dave Wickett. Some long standing staff have left, and the former very cheap meals have stopped - initially replaced by a different provider at around double the price, and then stopped altogether as trade dipped. Information received second hand is that takings have actually gone up since, so presumably there has been an increased turnover of cask beer and perhaps this is reflected in the consistently high beer scores I am seeing nowadays.
The Timothy Taylor Landord is reputed to be among the best in Sheffield, and the house beer, brewed by local Neepsend Brewery, is not Pale Rider but is based on a recipe from the 1990s that was a stage in the development of that award winning beer. Other beers are constantly changing, with an impressive range of styles and breweries from all over the country at reasonable prices. This pub was an innovative model when it started in its present form in 1981, and is still one of the best places to try great beers in great condition.
On 16th June 2025
- rating: 9
[User has posted 4349 recommendations about 3997 pubs]
Strongers . left this review about The Fat Cat
The bar of the Fat Cat is found to the right where a central L-shaped serving counter faces banquettes across the front windows and up the right-hand wall. I counted eight hand pumps that were drawing TT Landlord, Neepsend Brew Co’s Fat Cat House Ale (Kipa?), Fixed Wheel Brewery’s Kaisia, Fat Cat Brewery’s Ultra Hopz, Wantsum’s Dynamo, Wensleydale’s Chaos or Calm, Donnington Brewery’s Best and Three Acre’s Ruby Porter. I sat at a table next to the fireplace at the rear with a pint of Dynamo, which was OK. There were less than 20 customers so I decided to take the chance to have a wander, which took seconds because this isn’t the biggest place. I finished my pint sat in the left-hand carpeted room where there’s a fireplace on the rear wall and banquettes along the front and up the left. The service was polite and the beer selection is great so a must visit in this area of great boozers.
On 19th November 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 6133 recommendations about 6099 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Fat Cat
One of those pubs that you feel can't be as good as it is reported, but each visit I end up thinking what a good pub it is, especially for a lovely dark beer and a pork pie.
On 25th February 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3680 recommendations about 3615 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Fat Cat
I can’t add anything to the reviews below, a multi roomed pub with lots of ales to go at. Pleasant beer garden at the back and well priced food all day.
On 13th May 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Fat Cat
The Fat Cat is what I would describe as a proper pub,little unchanged inside it would seem through the decades. With 12 Handpumps in total, 8 in use on my visits there was plenty of choice , Kelham Islands Easy Rider and Pale Rider along with Durham West Coast IPA were mine. The decently priced pub grub was available all day , another bonus. A must visit pub on anyones list.
On 14th September 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2183 recommendations about 2150 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Fat Cat
Originally built in 1850 as the Alma, the Fat Cat acquired its current name in 1981; a lovely Cannon Ales mosaic can be seen in the entrance doorway, an indication that this was once a Wiliam Stones' pub. Indeed, CAMRA considers this place to be noted for its Interior of Some Regional Importance.
Comprehensively described below, I got the impression that this place didn't have the slightly more upmarket aspirations as its neighbour but it did have a more vibrant atmosphere as well as two passing lovely local lasses who joined our group photo. However, it was starting to fill up and I can quite imagine that later in the evening it would be rather crowded, something which doesn't appeal to me.
Ales: too many to list and probably all on rotation, but my half of Eagle Brewing's APA was great, though at £1.80 was quite steep by Sheffield standards.
Unlike its neighbour around the corner, this pub, despite its name, doesn't have a cat so if you fancy a break, have a KIT cat, a superb double-header.
On 19th July 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2243 recommendations about 2200 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Fat Cat
I was slightly concerned about trying to visit this Kelham Island institution on a Friday evening but as it happened, although it was busy I managed to initially get seated in the bar room and then moved to the room across the corridor which I recall being a more comfortable room to sit in.
My note and photo taking skills had deserted me by this stage of the crawl and all I can confirm was on was the regular Kelham Island Pale Rider which I thought it would be rude not to try on an inaugural visit.
I did try to return on the following day Saturday Lunchtime to make better notes and to take a look at the garden, but it was even more packed in the bar room with what looked like a hen party and escapees from some sort of wedding or other function at the nearby Kelham Island Museum with a queue almost out the door waiting to be served, so I cut my losses and headed off to the KIT.
For its importance to the Sheffield real ale scene I was hoping to be blown away by this one, but perhaps I will need to visit mid week for that to happen.
On 16th July 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2245 recommendations about 2105 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Fat Cat
A must when on a real ale crawl in Sheffield. A pleasant friendly bar that is usually very busy, and a separate room across the corridor, plus a garden seating area at the back. Plenty of beers to choose from includin 3 from the nearby Kelham Island brewery. We chose beers from Ascot and Chin Chin breweries, both in excellent condition. Reasonably priced meals and popular pork pies available.
On 31st March 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Fat Cat
Another superb Kelham Island pub with two separate rooms with a corridor between. The main room with the bar is L-shaped, boarded on entering then carpeted around the side. The walls are covered in CAMRA awards going back years. Decor includes lots of Brewery and whisky mirrors as well as local scenes of the once industrial local landscape. Prints of the pub for sale behind the bar at an ambitious £30 as well as mugs for a tenner.
Kelham Island Pale Rider, Great Newsome Stoggy, Kelham Best and I Want That One, Mr Grundys Pashendaele, Ashover Amberella, Tollgate California Steam, 4T's Chocolate and Fudge Stout Detectives, Tim Taylor's Cook Lane IPA, Landlord, Lancashire Cantina Perry and Sussex Seacider. You probably would find something you like from that line up.
Food served, mains from £5.25, pork pies were flying out at £1.50 each.
I didn't explore the side room as there was a function on, stairs lead up somewhere too. A rear partially covered garden has a heated section and the ubiquitous Sheffield Ward's signage.
A splendid unmissable pub if crawling the area.
On 5th March 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Fat Cat
Another cracker in Kelham Island. A small pub with 2 rooms. The bar area has 12 handpumps of which 2 were serving a cider and a perry. Kelham Island beers were obviously to the fore. I found this to be better than the one round the corner, though that doesn't mean the other isnt good, I just preferred this one.
On 10th March 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]