Pub group celebrates 20th birthday with party at Fat Cat in Chester

Jan 30 2012 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

A PUB group has celebrated 20 years in business in Chester and North Wales.

The first Fat Cat Café Bar was opened on January 20 1992 in North Wales by entrepreneur Matt Saunders and his business partner Simon Patterson.

The Chester outlet, launched in Lower Watergate Street in 1994, was the second in the chain and is still going strong today

To celebrate the landmark achievement, The Fat Cat Group threw a 20th birthday party at The Fat Cat on Watergate Street with music from the early 1990s to set the mood.

Since the first Fat Cat Café Bar opened in 1992 in Bangor, the company has opened further sites in London, the Midlands, Wales and the North West.

During 2007 a number of sites underwent refits in order to maintain the high standards Fat Cat is known for.

In 2007 the latest addition to the group saw the return of Fat Cat Derby after an absence of 18 months.

Over a period of two years during 2010/11 an additional six sites received ‘substantial investment’ in both customer areas and back of house.

“The pub industry has undergone radical changes over the years and it has been independent operators such as ourselves that have been at the forefront of this change, constantly innovating in order to satisfy increasingly sophisticated customer demands for food and drink and the atmosphere in which to enjoy it,” said Matt.

“The big brewers are now also introducing well formulated and well executed concepts within the café bar and pub sector making the industry a most exciting one to be a part of, both as a customer and an operator.

“Within this competitive environment it is our aim to remain at the forefront of café bar culture by continuing to offer the quality of products and brands, level of service and atmosphere that the customer continues to demand.”

He added: “Over the years Fat Cat has gained recognition for the quality of its service, food, drink and design from both public and industry awards.

“Being nominated in many categories from best design to best value for money, Fat Cat has made its mark not only in the industry sector, but in the public eye”.