Norwich – Fat Cat and Canary (Two Julians)
The Fat Cat and Canary, the third in our perambulation of the evening and this pub is also listed in the Good Beer Guide. The pub was opened as the East End Retreat (and there is a West End Retreat) in around 1850, but renamed the Mustard Pot in 1966 and then renamed the Fat Cat and Canary in 2012. The pub was operated by Lacons Brewery from the beginning of the twentieth century and then taken over by Whitbread when they purchased Lacons. Adnams bought the pub in 1995 and then it was purchased by Colin Keatley, of Fat Cat fame, in 2012. The first operators of the pub were Seaman, Grimmer & Co who were wine merchants and they advertised for a tenant in 1857.
What’s perhaps more than a little sad is that the earliest reference I can find to the pub in newspapers is from the Norwich Mercury of 1854:
“On Saturday, an inquest was held by Mr. Wilde, city coroner, at the East End Retreat, Thorpe, on the body of a female full-grown infant. The body was found on Friday morning in the Wensum, nearly opposite the East End Retreat public house. It was tied up in a piece of stuff, and was very decomposed, having apparently been in the water for some time. As no further information could be obtained, the jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned.””
The landlord in 1907 seems quite a rogue, the local press reported:
“George Green, landlord of the East End Retreat public-house, Thorpe-road, was summoned by his wife, Maria Green, of 11, Salisbury Road, who alleged desertion and applied for a separation order. Mr. E. A. Bracey appeared for complainant, who, he said, was married to defendant 42 years ago. Recently he had turned her out of doors no less than ten times. On the last occasion she was serving in the bar when he came home in a drunken state in the evening, after having been out all day, and when his wife remonstrated with him he struck her on the head and told her to leave the house or he would murder her. She went out on to the plain in front of the house, and defendant again threatened to murder her if she returned to it. In consequence of these threats and his ill-treatment she had gone to live with her daughter in Salisbury Road. – Complainant was called in support of Mr. Bracey’s statement, and eventually the case was adjourned for a week with the object of the parties coming to a private arrangement.”
George Green was only at the pub for a couple of years, which was probably for the best. The next landlord, Stephen Bowen, had the unfortunate situation soon after taking over that the till was robbed by a 22 year old called Charles Horsfall, who lived in London and stole over £1.
It was reported by the local press in 1917 that:
“Henry Johnson, licensed victualler, East End Retreat, Thorpe Road, was summoned for supplying Ellen Druary with intoxicating liquor which had not been ordered and paid for by her, on the 6th inst., and Stephen Druary, Thorpe St. Andrew, was summoned for paying for the intoxicating liquor, for consumption by Ellen Druary on the same date.–Both defendants pleaded guilty.–Johnson was fined 10s. and Druary 5s.”
Quite a hard punishment perhaps, but there was something of a tough policy on this during a time when they were trying to cut the number of pubs.
I also saw that there was a bagatelle board for sale at the pub in July 1870, it had a slate bottom and was priced at £5 which sounds rather pricey to me. There are a few pubs with these tables today, but the delight that is bar billiards has somewhat taken over now in this fine city.
Incidentally, I will note here for the sake of completion that the last time I came here the sole member of bar staff had in my view risked looking like that they had lost control of the venue, the only time I’ve experienced that in Norwich and so a friend and I just left. On the positive side, it was mentioned to me at the time by some other people that the incident that occurred was entirely out of character for the venue, and that certainly seems to be the case which is most fortunate as I’ve always rather liked this pub. I think I’d say that they were a little unfortunate with the group of customers that came in who seemed to be rather enthusiastic in terms of their enjoyment expectations. Either which way, it’s certainly a perfectly well run pub again, which is most reassuring. The pub is relatively near to Norwich City’s ground and it’s popular on football days and the mural on the side is something of a hint to this sporting connection.
Half of the beer board and there’s a fine choice of primarily real ale, but there are some interesting keg options as well. The prices were verging towards the lower end of the scale, so there’s value for money offered.
The other half of the board which contains the cider options. There’s plenty of character to the pub, with a seating area at the front near the bar and then a longer section towards the rear of the venue which has some more seating.
I go for Titanic just about every time I see it and this has the new branding from my favourite British brewery. The service was friendly, efficient and engaging, with everyone being served in turn.
I went for the Plum Porter which was well kept and it was suitably delicious, fruitiness from the plum and nicely rounded. When we visited on a Friday evening, there was only one table free and that had a coat and helmet on, but Julian wisely sat there and he correctly predicted that someone had just left it and was unlikely to be sitting there. He’s a proper pub professional is Julian, his sixty years drinking in pubs have really paid off. The pub was busy, but the atmosphere was relaxed, informal and comfortable, with everything feeling clean and organised. Definitely another solid choice for the Good Beer Guide and the beer selection was a delight.
