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Saturday, 8 August 2026

Kipper of Vat & Fiddle Pub, Nottingham

The history of Kipper, the cat, of the Vat & Fiddle pub, in Nottingham, that I remember from the 1990's to 2000s


Kipper was the beloved, iconic resident monochrome (black and white) cat of the Vat & Fiddle pub in Nottingham during the late 1990s and early 2000s. [1]

The Legend of Kipper

  • The Name: He was affectionately named "Kipper" after the famous Kelham Island Pale Rider ale. [2]
  • Appearance: He was a classic, distinctive monochrome cat. [1]
  • Pub Presence: Regulars from your era will remember him ruling the bar, curled up on the furniture, and occasionally sleeping in the guitar cases of musicians playing gigs at the venue. [2]
  • The Era: His residency coincided with Castle Rock Brewery taking over the pub in 1997 and establishing it as their legendary brewery taproom. [3]

A Recent Cat Parallel

If you visit the Vat & Fiddle today, the staff still speak fondly of their pub history—including Kipper. Funnily enough, the pub made global headlines recently when another adventurous feline named Peanut repeatedly travelled 30 miles from Lincolnshire just to hang out at the taproom, proving the pub’s historic feline appeal remains completely intact! [2, 4, 5]
Would you like help tracking down:
  1. Old photos or social media archive threads of Kipper from the early 2000s?
  2. More history about the Vat & Fiddle's transition to Castle Rock Brewery in the 90s? [3]


Old photos or social media archive threads of Kipper from the early 2000s?

The Vat & Fiddle actually shared a nostalgic look back at her! In mid-2026, the pub posted a vintage photo of Kipper curled up inside a guitar case. [1, 2]
If you want to view the photo and read what other regulars from your era remembered, you can find the post directly on the Vat & Fiddle Instagram Page.
As it turns out, your memory of the era is incredibly accurate, but the archives reveal a few brilliant details you might have forgotten:

1. She Was Actually a "She"!

While many regulars over the years assumed Kipper was a boy, archival records from the Nottingham CAMRA "Nottingham Drinker" Archive confirm she was actually a female cat. She arrived as a stray kitten on the pub's doorstep in 1997—right when Castle Rock took over—and passed away in 2013 at the grand old age of 17. The local CAMRA obituary lovingly described her as "the much loved, much avoided, but never ignored house cat". [3, 4]

2. She Had Her Own Dedicated Beer

In October 2005, Kipper racked up some hefty veterinary bills. To help pay for her treatment, Castle Rock Brewery brewed a special, one-off 5.0% English Porter named "Kipper". It was sold at the Nottingham Beer Festival and across local Tynemill pubs to fundraise for her health. [5, 6]

3. The Guitar Case Photo is Real

The current manager of the Vat & Fiddle used to play gigs at the pub when he was younger. The archival photo they unearthed shows Kipper doing exactly what you remembered: claiming his open guitar case as her personal bed for the evening while the band played. [1, 2]

4. Early Web Archives

If you want a pure hit of early-2000s internet nostalgia, Kipper was even catalogued on an old 2003 web database for pub cats. You can view her brief entry from May 2003 on the archived Scoopergen Pub Cat Page, which officially logs her colour as "monochrome" and her residence as the Vat & Fiddle. [7]
Would you like to explore:
  1. The history of the Castle Rock Brewery connection to the pub?
  2. Other famous historic pubs in Nottingham from that exact era? [3, 4]

The history of the Castle Rock Brewery connection to the pub?

The connection between Castle Rock Brewery and the Vat & Fiddle is a foundational piece of Nottingham’s modern pub history. The pub's rebirth and the brewery’s creation happened simultaneously in 1997, meaning Kipper the cat moved in at the exact moment the venue became the legendary "Brewery Tap". [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

1. The Pre-Castle Rock Era: "The Grove"

Long before real ale took over, the 1930s Art Deco building on Queensbridge Road was known as The Grove. By the 1990s, it had undergone several failed rebrandings—including a stint as a real ale house called The Tom Hoskins—before eventually shutting down. [6, 7]

2. Enter Tynemill (1997)

In 1997, the pub was bought by Tynemill, a local pub group founded in 1977 by former CAMRA chairman Chris Holmes. Tynemill famously renamed the pub The Vat & Fiddle—a clever play on its close proximity to the nearby HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) VAT offices. [1, 8, 9, 10]

3. The Birth of the Brewery

At the exact same time, Chris Holmes wanted Tynemill to start brewing its own beer. He partnered with the existing local Bramcote Brewery, which was looking to relocate because it lacked permanent planning permission. [1, 3, 5, 11]
  • Tynemill acquired a set of former industrial outbuildings located directly behind the Vat & Fiddle.
  • They moved the brewing equipment into these outhouses, wound up the Bramcote name, and officially launched Castle Rock Brewery in 1997. [1, 2, 12]

4. Becoming the "Brewery Tap"

Because the brewery was physically attached to the pub, the Vat & Fiddle instantly became Castle Rock’s flagship Brewery Taproom. [2, 7]
  • Punters could sit at the bar and drink beer that had traveled less than 50 feet from the conditioning tanks.
  • By 2001, Tynemill bought out the remaining brewery partners, and eventually, the entire pub chain rebranded under the more famous Castle Rock Brewery banner. [2, 8, 13]
  • By the mid-2000s, an expansion allowed customers inside the pub to look through a glass partition to watch the brewers hard at work in the back. [14]
When you were drinking there in the late 90s and 2000s, you were sitting at the literal epicentre of Castle Rock's operations, with Kipper holding court over the whole setup.
What would you like to look into next?
  1. The history of Nottingham Brewery, who originally built the pub site in the 1930s?
  2. Other iconic Tynemill / Castle Rock pubs from that era, like the Lincolnshire Poacher or The Victoria in Beeston? [8, 14, 15, 16]



The history of Nottingham Brewery, who originally built the pub site in the 1930s?

The original Nottingham Brewery was one of the city's powerhouse Victorian beer makers, and its 1930s expansion gave us the distinct Art Deco architecture that defines the Vat & Fiddle today. [1, 2]
The history of the brewery—and how it built the pub site—spans massive industrial growth, an architectural revolution, and a modern-day resurrection. [3, 4]

1. The Victorian Powerhouse (1847–1944)

The brewery began in 1847 as St. Mary’s Brewery on Mansfield Road. [5, 6]
  • The Cave Network: The brewery was built over Nottingham's famous underground sandstone caves. This provided the perfect temperature for beer storage, allowing barrels of their famous Rock Ales to be rolled straight into the adjacent Victoria Railway Station.
  • The Peak: By the early 1900s, the company was a regional giant, owning over 160 tied public houses across the East Midlands. [1, 6, 7, 8, 9]

2. The 1930s Rebuild & Architecture

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the pub site on Queensbridge Road had existed as a Victorian street-corner local known as The Grove Tavern. [10, 11]
By the late 1930s, major regional breweries (like Shipstone's, Home Ales, and Nottingham Brewery) engaged in a fierce aesthetic battle to build "Improved Pubs"—cleaner, more striking, and comfortable venues. [2, 4, 12]
  • The Design: In 1937–1938, Nottingham Brewery completely demolished the old building and hired the renowned local architectural firm W.B. Starr & Hall to design a replacement. [2, 11]
  • The Shape: Because the site sat on a sharp corner near the railway station, the architects built it in a striking, wedge-shaped Moderne style of Art Deco architecture. The concrete lines and curved brickwork you drank alongside in the 90s were intentionally crafted to look like a cutting-edge 1930s ocean liner. [2, 4, 13]

3. The Collapse of the Original Brewery (1944–1952)

Nottingham Brewery's independent era came to an end in 1944 when it was bought out by Tennant Brothers of Sheffield. Brewing operations on Mansfield Road were shut down completely in 1952, and the brand name was absorbed into massive corporate entities like Whitbread, seemingly lost to time. Without its original parent brewery, The Grove Tavern passed through various corporate hands until Tynemill saved it in 1997. [5, 6, 14, 15, 16]

4. The 21st-Century Plot Twist

If you remember the Nottingham beer scene of the early 2000s, you might remember a sudden revival. In 2000, local independent brewers discovered that the historic "Nottingham Brewery" name had legally lapsed at Companies House. They immediately secured the rights, built a new kit, and resurrected Nottingham Brewery as an independent brand operating out of The Plough in Radford. [14, 17, 18]
This means that while Castle Rock Brewery owns and brews out of the Vat & Fiddle today, the name of the original 1930s builders is still alive and kicking on pump clips around the city today! [2, 14, 19, 20, 21]
What would you like to explore next?
  1. Other local Art Deco pubs built in Nottingham during that exact 1930s boom (like The Lord Roberts or The Vale)?
  2. The types of beers the original Nottingham Brewery was famous for back in its heyday? [1, 4, 22]



Other local Art Deco pubs built in Nottingham during that exact 1930s boom (like The Lord Roberts or The Vale)?

Nottingham’s 1930s "Improved Pub" boom created an architectural legacy that leaves the city with some of the best-preserved Art Deco pub interiors in the country. This sudden burst of construction was driven by a fierce rivalry between the city’s big three breweries—Home Brewery, Shipstone’s, and Nottingham Brewery—who rushed to replace dingy Victorian beer houses with clean, geometric "Moderne" designs. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The Lord Roberts (Hockley)

  • The Architect: Built in 1936–1937 by W.B. Starr & Hall—the exact same architects who designed the Vat & Fiddle. [6, 7, 8]
  • The Brewery: Constructed for Shipstone’s Brewery on the site of an older pub called The High Cross. [7]
  • Design Features: Because it had a tight city-centre corner footprint, its lines are more modest. It features a distinctive flat roof, a concrete vertical fin, geometric stained glass over the doors, and classic metal Crittall windows. [1, 5, 7]
  • Cultural Legacy: Over the decades, it evolved into a beloved theatre-themed bar next to the Lace Market, famous for being a highly inclusive cornerstone of Nottingham's LGBTQ+ community. [7, 9]

The Vale (Woodthorpe / Daybrook)

  • The Architect: Built between 1935 and 1937 by T. Cecil Howitt, the legendary Nottingham architect behind the iconic Nottingham Council House and the Wollaton Crown Hotel.
  • The Brewery: Commissioned by Home Brewery as a grand suburban flagship and residential hotel.
  • Design Features: It is celebrated by CAMRA as an Art Deco interior of national historic importance. The exterior boasts a magnificent streamlined look with symmetrical, rounded single-storey wings. Inside, the original front Smoke Room remains completely intact, featuring pristine 1930s wood panelling and a bar counter subtly carved with "HB" initials for Home Brewery.
  • The Quirky Fact: The pub is Grade II listed, but uniquely, its roadside pub sign has its own separate Grade II listing because it stands on a formal Doric column with built-in wooden seating at the base. [2, 3, 10, 11, 12]

Other Notable 1930s Deco Standouts

The Crown Hotel
The Crown Hotel (Wollaton): Another Cecil Howitt creation built in 1935 for Home Brewery. It is a massive, white-rendered building that heavily embraces the glamorous "ocean liner" aesthetic of the era.
The Test Match Hotel
The Test Match Hotel (West Bridgford): Built by Hardy & Hansons brewery, this is the other Nottingham pub considered a top-three Art Deco interior in England alongside The Vale. It famously features an incredible original terrazzo spittoon trough built right into the floor around the base of the bar.
The Bath Inn
The Bath Inn (Sneinton): Originally a Bradley's Brewery pub from the same era. While it was modified over the years, a brilliant recent restoration revived its vibrant 1930s geometric character inside. [1, 2, 3, 13]
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Would you like to look closer into:
  1. The architects themselves (like Cecil Howitt or W.B. Starr) and what else they built in Nottingham?
  2. The "Improved Pub" movement and why the government pushed breweries to build these styles?


Nottingham has an incredible tradition of famous pub cats, ranging from historic neighborhood characters to global headline-makers. Aside from Kipper, several felines have left an indelible mark on the city's drinking culture. [1]

1. Peanut / "Screech" – The Vat & Fiddle’s 30-Mile Commuter

The Vat & Fiddle didn't just stop at Kipper; it became the focus of global news due to a modern feline explorer. [2, 3, 4]
  • The Story: In 2025, a mischievous tortoiseshell-and-white cat named Peanut vanished from his home in North Hykeham, Lincoln. [5, 6]
  • The Commute: He managed to travel over 30 miles away, successfully navigating all the way to the Vat & Fiddle taproom. Even more bizarrely, after being returned home to his owners, he did it a second time just a few weeks later. [2, 7]
  • The Legacy: The brewery staff fell in love with him, officially nicknaming him "Screech" after one of Castle Rock's popular beers. Theories still circle locally that he hopped onto a train or walked the railway tracks just to get a pint! [5, 6]

2. Barnaby – The Lincolnshire Poacher (Mansfield Road)

Another iconic sister pub in the Castle Rock Brewery stable, The Lincolnshire Poacher, had its own legendary resident during the 2000s and 2010s named Barnaby.
  • The Vibe: Barnaby was a massive, incredibly relaxed ginger tomcat.
  • The Regular: He was famous for sleeping on the wooden benches in the walled beer garden or curled up right next to the roaring real fire inside.
  • The Legend: Regulars loved him because he was entirely unfazed by the bustling atmosphere of one of Nottingham's busiest real ale venues.

3. The "Cursed" Model Cat – Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem

While not a living, breathing cat, England's oldest inn, Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, holds one of the most famous feline stories in the UK. [8, 9]
  • The Object: Hanging from the ceiling in the Rock Lounge is The Cursed Galleon, a small wooden model ship.
  • The Cat Connection: Local legend states that the ship is covered in the dust of centuries because it is fiercely cursed. The story goes that the last three people who attempted to clean it all met sudden, mysterious, and untimely deaths.
  • The Guardian: To keep people from touching it, the pub placed a stuffed, preserved cat next to the ship inside a glass case to act as its eternal, eerie guardian.

4. The Modern Shift: Kitty Café (Friar Lane)

If you want to fast-forward past traditional boozers to the modern era, Nottingham actually pioneered the cat-venue concept by launching the very first Kitty Café in the UK. While it serves coffee and cake rather than pints of Castle Rock ale, it houses a rotating crew of over 30 rescue cats that roam across custom-built ceiling walkways, keeping the city's feline obsession well and truly alive. [10, 11]
Would you like to explore:
  1. More about Peanut's baffling 30-mile journey?
  2. The ghost stories and legends inside Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem? [2, 9]


Peanut's logic-defying commute from Lincolnshire to the Vat & Fiddle became a viral news sensation in late 2025. The story of this tiny, one-year-old tortoiseshell-and-white rescue cat baffled his owners, the brewery staff, and animal experts alike. [1, 2, 3]

The First Disappearance (July 2025)

Peanut vanished from his home in North Hykeham, Lincoln. His owner, Charley Rawlings, spent three weeks frantically searching the neighborhood. [1, 3, 4]
  • The Discovery: Peanut was found completely relaxed at Castle Rock Brewery's warehouse and taproom in Nottingham. [3, 5]
  • The Vocal Guest: Warehouse manager Simon Belshaw noted they actually "heard him before they saw him," because Peanut was extremely loud. [2, 6]
  • The Nickname: Because of his booming meow, general manager Jessica Collins officially nicknamed him "Screech", a nod to Castle Rock’s iconic, potent Screech Owl American IPA. [6, 7, 8]
  • The Reunion: The pub took him to a vet to scan his microchip. When Charley was told her cat was at a brewery, she searched Facebook for "Nottingham cat brewery" and saw the staff's photos. She drove down to collect him, even celebrating his first birthday at the pub before heading home. [2, 5, 9]

The Second Journey (August 2025)

Charley tried putting a tracker collar on Peanut, but the mischievous cat managed to slip it and broke out of the house again on August 27th. [10, 11]
  • The Record Pace: While the first trip took weeks, this time Peanut smashed his personal best, covering the 30+ miles in just three days. [3, 8]
  • The Bar Tab: He strolled right back into the Vat & Fiddle. The brewery posted an update on social media joking that Peanut had "come back to cash in his loyalty points". Charley had to make the long drive to Nottingham to pick him up all over again. [2, 8, 9, 11, 12]

How Did He Do It?

Cats frequently get lost, but navigating over 30 miles to the exact same specific building twice is almost unheard of. Locals and experts put forward three main theories: [2]
  1. The Train Enthusiast: North Hykeham has a direct railway line that connects straight into Nottingham Station. Because the Vat & Fiddle sits just a stone's throw from the Nottingham tracks, many believe Peanut walked the length of the railway line or hopped onto a carriage.
  2. The Delivery Truck Hitchhiker: Another prominent theory is that Peanut slipped into the back of a delivery van or a local dray wagon operating between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
  3. Pure Feline GPS: His owner famously joked to BBC News: "If I was to run away from home, a pub wouldn't be a bad place to start." Whatever his method, Peanut proved that the ghost of Kipper's pub-cat legacy is still going strong. [1, 3, 4, 5, 13]
Where should our Nottingham pub journey head next?
  1. The beer that gave him his name (Screech Owl and the Castle Rock brewing range)?
  2. Other bizarre animal tales from historic UK pubs? [5, 14]
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