Meet A Member: Paula Gardner

May 13, 2018 3:59 pm by Editorial Team

Meet Paula Gardner from New Orleans who moved to LA in 1975 to pursue her British boyfriend, Kim Gardner. He later became her husband and would open the world-renowned Cat & Fiddle Pub in Hollywood in 1982.

Tell us about how you moved to LA…and how you first met Kim?

FOUR-midable: Paula (second from right) with daughters Ashley, Eva and Camille

When I first met Kim he still lived in London, so I visited him there many times. I met his lovely mother, whose hand-written recipes on onionskin letter paper were the inspiration for dishes we still serve at the pub. Kim and I eventually decided to settle down in Hollywood. He wanted to open his own pub there because there wasn’t one! His dad always said, “That boy would do anything for a pint!” Kim was a bassist in the British Invasion scene of the 60s and 70s so his friends included the likes of Ron Wood, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, etc. The Cat & Fiddle became a hub for the entertainment industry – you never knew who’d pop in!

Kim and I had 3 girls, Ashlee, Camille and Eva. We continued to visit family in London regularly and of course frequented many pubs. One in particular, the Portobello Gold, we always referred to as our “sister pub.” The kids couldn’t wait to go to there to play the pokies, which afforded us some time to knock back a few pints! Portobello Road antique market shopping sprees provided most of the décor you see at the Cat & Fiddle.

36 years later, the Cat & Fiddle remains family run. Ashlee is my partner and Camille’s consulting company is also an integral part of the operation. Eva is Johnny-on-the-spot when she is not on tour as a bassist for artists such as P!nk and Cher.

I lived here in the late 1960s and always loved the energy. There used to be so many cars on West Sunset going to the Whisky and other clubs that traffic would be at a standstill – people would turn up the music on their radio, get out of their cars and dance in the street. I used to see Janis Joplin’s psychedelic Porsche on Highland Ave where she lived. I was so inundated with the music scene at that time – it was so new, fresh and vibrant. There was much more artistic freedom in Los Angeles at the time than in the South. While we were dating, Kim was recording an album for Capitol records in Hollywood. I met him here and we decided to stay – the rest is history!

What do you miss most from home?

I miss the Southern hospitality and charm. I used to miss the food – fabulous restaurants and down home cooking – but Los Angeles is now very diversified in its culinary offerings. We even have some Southern fare at the Cat & Fiddle like Gulf Crab Fingers and Gumbo.

PAULA (R) and her 3 girls

Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?

I absolutely love Beverly Hot Springs. It’s the only 100% natural hot springs in Los Angeles. A massage, a soak and a steam – you can’t go wrong.

What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here? 

Take the leap!

Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given? 

If you open a business, it has to be the right idea, the right location and the right time.

Lastly, how can we find out more about you?

Come to the Cat and don’t forget our traditional Sunday Roast. You can also find us on social media atthecatandfiddle.com, Instagram & Twitter @thecatandfiddle and Facebook.com/catandfiddlerestaurant.