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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Thursday, 26th December 2024
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Detail Pages
The Fat Cat, Ipswich
Ipswich
IP4 5NL
Served areas
Reviews of The Fat Cat (Average Rating: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Fat Cat
Well-known alehouse housed in a slightly extended suburban pub on the east side of town. The L-shaped bar is located in the original building, with a small seating area in a lean-to addition on the left-hand side, and more space in the light extension at the back which also leads to the slightly raised patio garden. I found a total of 15 cask ales on offer, including Ghost Ship and the seasonal Yuletide (£5.00) from Adnams on the pair of handpumps plus 13 more on gravity from the rear taproom.
On 28th December 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Fat Cat
Latest Visit 19/10/24:
A return visit to the Fat Cat with an opportunity to sit inside this time. We chose the brighter space overlooking the garden to the rear. On a dull day, the rest of the pub feels a bit too dark.
This visit re-affirmed my opinion that this branch of the chain is inferior to the ones in Norwich. The ale range is good, but I suspect that they are trying to stock too many beers for the throughput. Pretty much all of the beers I tried were pretty ropey, even the Three Blind Mice beer. I usually really enjoy their beers.
Woodforde's Wherry is the regular beer. Guests were Adnams Broadside, Old Ale & Double Ghost IPA, Woodforde's Pinecone, Crouch Vale Yakima Gold, Fat Cat Tom Cat & Kofra Cat, Nightjar Lost in Ikea, Three Blind Mice Step Away From The Haze, Castle Rock Krush, Bishop Nick Heresy, Ampersand Duo Hop, Colchester Raven, Humpty Dumpty Farrier & Luda Voulez Brew. Ciders were Seacider White Peach, Snail's Bank Pineapple & Grapefruit Cider, Gwynt y Ddraig Ancient Warrior, Abrahall's Thundering Molly & Kent Russet. Keg beers were Three Blind Mice Juicy Rocket & Jiggler's Tipple Juicy Chug.
Compared with the Dove Street Inn, this pub was much quieter. With just one barman scheduled to run the place on a Saturday afternoon, its presumably always this quiet. Located a fair way out of Ipswich town centre, I'm not sure it's worth the schlep uphill to get here and if others feel the same way, they'll inevitably continue to struggle to keep the excellent ale range they have in good condition.
Original Visit 30/4/21:
Having been to the three Fat Cat pubs in Norwich, I was expecting this to be the highlight of my day in Ipswich. It was the only pub where reservations are compulsory. There were tables available when I arrived and after I left. So, I'm not sure if I would have been accommodated if I had not booked. I do hate having to book, as my day had to revolve around the booked time for this pub.
After initially being shown to the "wrong" table, I was moved to the correct one. Although, most were undercover, in any case.
As was expected, the ale and cider range was good - Crouch Vale Brewers Gold & Yakima Gold, Adnams Mosaic, Vocation Heart & Soul, Woodforde's Wherry & Norfolk Nog, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Sharp's Doom Bar, Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde, Lilley's Mango Cider, Saxby's Plum Cider & Celtic Marches Cracklin' Rosie Perry & Slack Alice.
This is undoubtedly a good pub, but the experience did not match that of the original Fat Cat in Norwich. It may have been due to a more limited beer and cider range than normal or perhaps due to the outdoor drinking arrangements, but I was slightly disappointed.
On 22nd October 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Fat Cat
An odd location really, a long hike up a hill through a fairly unassuming residential area though passing under the impressive viaduct was a highlight. An unassuming exterior, you could almost walk past it if it wasn’t for the flash of orange and the ‘free mouse’ (ho ho) sign. Fairly small inside with a plain main bar, a side room with (COVID-constructed?) booths and a rear conservatory. Fairly rustic, bordering on the spartan, not much in the way of cosiness unlike its cousins in Norwich. Things started to look up as we discovered the long and pleasant beer garden and got chatting to the licensee who was very engaging and genuinely interested in our three day extravaganza around Norwich and Ipswich. Onto the beers then; a large selection via pump or stillage in the cool room. I went for Bishop Nick 1555 (NBSS 3), Crouch Vale Brewers Gold (4) and North Riding Peanut Butter Stout (3.5) as well as a very nice (if not cheap) chilli scotch egg. Ciders and some crafty stuff also available. Easily the best of the Ipswich pubs I did that day but its location means you need to either do it first via bus, or do it last with a pre-ordered taxi. It doesn’t really compare to the Fattus Cattus outlets in Norwich but in a town that’s hard to love, this is a winner. 8.5
Visited early August.
On 12th September 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
View more reviews of The Fat Cat (8)
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- Official site for the Fat Cat - www.fatcatipswich.co.uk
- Facebook page of The Fat Cat - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Fat Cat - whatpub.com
Ipswich, 1.87 miles, 36 min walk (show)
Westerfield, 2.25 miles, 43 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : No - Scotch eggs though! - last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 12 September 2021 by Quinno _
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