I use to regularly roll in here when other pubs shut or to see a band, I've been reading the reviews about it being run down grungy over crowded, hot and small to boot a lot of the people that go to it are also grungy and stand outside probably trying to get a breath of air. I noticed lately it's been painted and looks better now. It was falling apart. I guess if live bands and grungy looking characters are your thing well your laughing because your In your element. They have a booking agent now which probably reduces the odd walk in from the locals to see whats going on. They also get some bands that use to play the pubs years ago Chasing the train was a regular at the Cat and Fiddle and it use to get packed out but it's more open and kind of less grungy. For posterity sake and live band gigs I'd be happy to keep it around these days booking to go into grunge to go deaf and stand among likewise I not really interested in any more. So I will leave my own preferences out of the quations if judgement and merit and just have to give it a 3 on the basis of size, grunge, booking arrangements as there are other live gigs around that are better in these factors but not so easy to find this type of band gig house around. Thumbs up for the grungy uniqueness only unfortunately. But don't want it to dissapear as it's a local icon.