Black Cat Bar Opens Fourth Liverpool Venue in Woolton Village 2026

Key Points

• Black Cat Bar & Bottle Shop has opened its fourth venue in Liverpool, named Village Cat, in Woolton Village.
• The new bar occupies the former Coast Café Bistro premises, which closed in July 2024 citing increased expenses and decreased revenue.
• Village Cat has been in development for more than a year and was announced via an Instagram video showing the team rearranging the old bistro sign.
• Black Cat began on Smithdown Road in 2017, expanded to Rose Lane in Mossley Hill in 2024, and opened its third venue on Parr Street in October 2025.
• Local residents have welcomed the opening, describing it as a “fantastic addition to the village”.
• Andy Scott, co-founder of Black Cat, previously told the ECHO the business started with no experience in an old butcher’s shop rented for £500 a month.

Woolton (Liverpool standard) August 01, 2026 – The Liverpool-based craft beer and cocktail brand has officially opened its fourth venue, Village Cat, in uk/local/woolton/">Woolton Village, marking the latest expansion for a business that began on Smithdown Road in 2017.

What is Village Cat and where is it located?

Village Cat is the newest addition to Black Cat Bar & Bottle Shop’s portfolio, situated in the former Coast Café Bistro building in Woolton Village, south Liverpool. The venue represents the fourth location for the brand, which has grown from a single site on Smithdown Road to a multi-venue operation across the city.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the previous signage for Coast Café Bistro was removed as preparations for the launch progressed, with team members filmed rearranging letters from the old sign to spell “cat” in an Instagram announcement. The post read: “CAT? Village Cat Woolton coming soon…”

How did Black Cat Bar grow from one venue to four?

Black Cat Bar & Bottle Shop originated in 2017 on Smithdown Road, where it established itself as a craft beer and cocktail destination. According to the company’s website, the brand has become “the home of craft beer and cocktails for the people of Liverpool” since its founding.

The expansion timeline shows steady growth:

• 2017: Original venue opens on Smithdown Road.
• 2024: Second venue opens on Rose Lane in Mossley Hill.
• October 2025: Third venue, Purr Street (on Parr Street), opens in Liverpool city centre, taking over from Crazy Pedro’s.
• July 2026: Fourth venue, Village Cat, opens in Woolton Village.

In a 2023 interview with the ECHO, Andy Scott, one of the founders, explained the origins of the business, which was previously named Craft Taproom.

“I lived in this area for a long time and wanted a place where I would enjoy going for a drink. A friend of mine, who was a pub manager, suggested we start something together,”

Scott said.

He continued:

“We came across an old butcher’s shop that was renting for £500 a month and decided to give it a try. We had no experience, just went in with a hammer and started making changes, and then Rich helped fix our blunders.”

What happened to the previous business at the Village Cat site?

The premises now occupied by Village Cat previously housed Coast Café Bistro, which closed permanently in July 2024. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Café B announced on Facebook that it was compelled to close due to “a combination of increased expenses and decreased revenue”.

The proprietors expressed pride in having served the community while also feeling “heartbroken” about the closure. Almost two years later, Black Cat secured the premises and began preparations for what would become Village Cat.

How has the local community reacted to Village Cat opening?

The announcement of the Woolton Village opening has been met with enthusiasm from local residents, according to social media responses documented by the Liverpool Echo. Community members have described the new venue as “a fantastic addition to the village”.

One Instagram follower expressed excitement, saying:

“Looking forward to visiting”.

Another added:

“Super excited this… we’ve been waiting for you”.

What are the opening times for Black Cat venues?

Black Cat operates different hours across its four locations. According to the company website, the Smithdown Road venue operates Monday to Thursday from 3pm to midnight, Friday from 2pm to 2am, Saturday from midday to 2am, and Sunday from midday to 11pm.

The Rose Lane location in Mossley Hill operates Monday to Thursday from 2pm to 11pm, Friday from 2pm to midnight, Saturday from 2pm to midnight, and Sunday from 2pm to 11pm. The Parr Street venue operates Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 11pm, Friday from 3pm to midnight, Saturday from midday to midnight, and Sunday from midday to 11pm.

Background of Black Cat’s Development

The development of Black Cat from a single Smithdown Road venue to a four-location brand reflects broader trends in Liverpool’s independent hospitality sector. Andy Scott’s 2023 comments to the ECHO highlighted the collaborative approach the business has taken with other local operators.

Scott mentioned discussions with Kev McArthur, owner of the Handyman pub on Smithdown, after they opened Evil Eye, which led to the idea of uniting local businesses.

“That’s why we initiated the Smithdown Road festival, to connect with other venues and foster collaboration. It has been a success,”

Scott said.

The brand’s expansion into Woolton Village represents a move into a different area of south Liverpool, following successful openings in Mossley Hill and the city centre. CAMRA records confirm the former Café Bistro was converted in July 2026 to become the fourth Black Cat pub.

Prediction: Impact on Liverpool’s Independent Hospitality Sector

This development could affect independent pub operators and craft beer enthusiasts across Liverpool by demonstrating the viability of multi-venue expansion for local brands. The success of Black Cat’s growth from one venue to four over nine years may encourage other independent operators to consider similar expansion strategies.

For craft beer drinkers in south Liverpool, particularly in Woolton and surrounding areas, the opening provides additional access to independent venues offering curated selections of craft beers and real ales. The positive community response suggests there is demand for this type of offering in village locations outside the city centre.

The conversion of a previously closed bistro site into a thriving bar also indicates potential for regeneration of vacant hospitality premises across Liverpool, which could benefit local economies and provide employment opportunities in the sector.