The Black Cat, Bedminster, Bristol

A busy and popular bar unlike many of it’s neighbours, at least on a recent Thursday evening visit. It’s a good size, single room pub and the decor is pleasant and a little “olde worlde”, in many ways being more like a country inn than an inner city pub. There was plenty of wood panelling around, some on the walls, parts of the ceiling, and the bar counter. Elsewhere there were beams on the ceiling, supported by red pillars in a number of places. There was an old cast iron fireplace, although this appeared to be not in use and a number of copper pots hanging from the beams. There was more wood on the floors, together with some red carpet at the far end. There was also a plasma down at this end although this was not in use, as well as a fruit machine and juke box. The main draw on this evening appeared to be the karaoke which is apparently a regular Thursday and Sunday fixture. Unusually though, pretty much all the punters seemed to be 50+, and the standard of the singers was much higher than you would normally expect to encounter. Unfortunately there were no real ales on tap, just keg Flower’s Best and John Smith’s Extra Smooth. Ciders were Blackthorn and Stowford Press.