For Hollywood, a Pub of Its Own

There are some things you won’t usually find at the Cat & Fiddle. A trendy Los Angeles attitude, for instance. And it’s not dark and dank like some bars.

But the Cat & Fiddle does serve up tasty English specialties. It offers live music on its garden patio. And it’s a great place to sink a pint of beer and sling some darts.

“The way I see it,” said owner Kim Gardner, 46, “a pub is a poor man’s nightclub.”

More than a decade ago, the English native and his wife, Paula, got tired of driving to Santa Monica to drink “decent pints of beer.” So Gardner decided it was time that Hollywood had a pub of its own.

With little experience and a lot of enthusiasm, Gardner, a musician who has played bass with the likes of Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and the Rolling Stones, set out to create a British pub, complete with dartboards and a snooker table.

“At first, I thought it was a strange gig for a bass player,” Gardner said. “I didn’t know anything about the (restaurant) business.”

He opened the 50-seat bar on Laurel Canyon Boulevard and named it in honor of a pub where he played stand-up bass as a teen-ager. It was an instant success. Two years later, the pub moved to its present location at 6530 Sunset Blvd., once home of the popular Chinese restaurant Sunset Gardens.

Despite its British offerings, the decor is more like that of a Mexican ranch house. It is built around a romantic Mediterranean-style terrace. The patio is surrounded by white, stucco walls and wrought-iron gates. Tiny lights are strung through trees, making it a great place to dine and watch the stars.

Using some of his mother’s recipes, Gardner serves up traditional pub fare, including shepherd’s pie, lamb chops, fish and chips, bangers and mash. A good selection of English beers are on tap, which has helped to attract a loyal following of customers.

“We’ll grab dinner and a couple of beers,” said Rohitash Rao, a Hollywood resident and an art director who stopped by on a recent Tuesday night. “The atmosphere is very friendly. . . . It’s so wonderful to sit outside and have a beer.”

Every Sunday from 7 to 11 p.m., the restaurant features the Pat Britt/Wilbur Brown & Friends Jazz Quintet on the patio. Occasionally, Gardner plays a set or two.

“They have great music,” said regular customer Shawn Gallipeau. “There’s something for everyone here.”

The Cat & Fiddle is at 6530 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Information: (213) 468-3800.