Weston’s first ever ‘micropub’ is set to open its doors to the public tomorrow.

The Black Cat has taken over the Garment Shop on Weston’s High Street and will open at 5pm.

As the first pub in Weston to sell draught craft ale, The Black Cat’s owners say they will focus on serving ‘top quality cask and craft ale’, rather than delivering a cheap price tag.

Co-owner Nick Smith, who is opening the pub with his partner Claire Howe, wants The Black Cat to energise Weston’s real ale scene, which he describes as ‘dead on it’s feet’.

He said: “Weston has been crying out for a micropub for years. Although the ale scene in the town has been improving, it’s still not great.

“We want to give it a boost. We are both massive cask ale fans and we think the town is ready for something a bit different.”

As well as serving cask and craft ales from local breweries, the pub intends to sell artisan rum and gin, red and white wine, naturally sweetened ‘keeved’ cider and a selection of soft drinks.

The list of ales is expected to rotate regularly.

There will also be traditional pub snacks on offer, like ‘very spicy’ pickled onions and eggs.

Nick said: “We’re keen to promote local cheeses too, so we’ll be serving up a cheeseboard and possibly some tapas as well.

“Our products will be as local as possible. Many of the ales will come from breweries as close as Bristol, Cardiff and Somerset.

“However, we will be serving Belgians, lambics and sours too, as well as award-winning ales from all over the country.”

The opening night will see craft ales from well-known local breweries, such as Good Chemistry, Wiper and True, Arbor, Bristol Beer Factory, Twisted Oak, Hop Back, Tiny Rebel and Thornbridge.

In order to qualify as a micropub, a venue has to serve real ale and soft drinks in a small, simple premises – usually a converted shop or office.

A micropub can’t serve hot food or kegged lager.

Nick says their aim was to make The Black Cat as homely and traditional as possible.

That means no screens and no electronic entertainment.

Instead, there will be speciality beer nights, home brewers club and ‘meet the brewer’ sessions.

The Black Cat Micropub will be open from noon to 10pm every day.