There are more than 30 ciders and a dozen beers to choose from
The Black Cat pub in Weston-super-Mare(Image: Bristol Live)
Black cats are often associated with bad luck but there’s nothing unlucky about a visit to The Black Cat pub. Across the road from the Playhouse Theatre, this tiny micropub a short walk from the seafront – reputed to be the smallest pub in Weston-super-Mare – is quite simply one of the best of its type.
It was opened seven years ago by Nick Smith, who turned a former clothes shop into the pint-sized pub it is now.
Hugely popular with locals and visiting beer and cider drinkers, it was recently awarded runner-up in the CAMRA Bristol & District Cider Pub of the Year for the second year running. On the afternoon I popped in, this dog-friendly pub was packed with a mix of regulars and first-time visitors who had heard about its reputation.
And much of that reputation has been built on its vast range of ‘real’ ciders, including perry – there were 34 different types chalked on the board on a wall surrounded by old beer pump clips.
There were four cask ales (all £5 a pint) available, all from Cheddar Ales – Goat’s Leap IPA, Ebboriginal pale, Continental (very pale) and Gorge Best bitter.
The eight craft and keg beers included Attic Ten Acres stout from Birmingham, Cornwall’s Verdant Big Stupid Westy and Nothing Bound Connecticut pale ale from Worcestershire.
Inside the tiny Black Cat pub in Weston-super-Mare(Image: Bristol Live)
Most intriguing of all, perhaps, was the Electric Bear Son of a Beach ice cream sour – a mandarin, mango and lemon ice cream-flavoured sour beer inspired by classic ice lollies that blends vanilla ice cream with sharp and fruity sorbet.
But it’s the ciders that catch the eye and some are certainly to be approached with caution due to their strength – especially the Cotswold No Brainer at 6% and the Ross-on-Wye Harry Brown at a knee-buckling 7.4%.
Other ciders on offer included Sandford Orchards Smack Ma Girdle, the ‘very dry’ Hogans Pankin Pole and the more commonplace Thatchers Cheddar Valley.
I tried the deliciously fruity Hogans Lonely Partridge Perry, a cloudy, still pear cider made in Warwickshire – at 5.8% it wasn’t overly strong but you wouldn’t want too many of them.
Of course, serious drinking requires serious pub snacks to soak it up and as well as ‘big, thick’ crisps, nuts and pickled eggs, there is a range of £3 stuffed rolls including classic combinations like cheese and onion or pork and stuffing.
The Black Cat, 135 High Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1HN. Tel: 01934 620153.