Wildcat Tavern opens on Barton — a sports team walks into a bar

There's a new spot for a pint in this hard-working football town.

Taps are now flowing at Wildcat Tavern on Barton Street East near Emerald Street, with a name that is strikingly familiar to those interested in local Canadian football past - and Aussie rules football present.

Wildcat served its first customers May 11, more than 70 years after the Hamilton Wildcats merged with the Hamilton Tigers to form CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Dozens of first-time customers posted shots of the pub's classic decor, including old-fashioned beer signs and an NBA Jam arcade game.

The new tavern promises cold beer, cocktails, ballpark hot dogs and happy-hour deals from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday. The pub is open Wednesday to Saturday 4 p.m. to midnight and Sunday until 10 p.m.

Wildcat is located at 353 Barton St. E., formerly the short-lived UFO-themed Roswell and before that Stardust, by the same owners.

With the throwback name and style, expect that American-style lagers are fully back in fashion at Wildcat.

Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com