Have you been to… ShakesPaw Cat Café Stratford Upon Avon

ShakesPaw Cat Café sits in the centre of Stratford-Upon-Avon just a stone’s throw from Shakespeare’s birthplace. It’s a delightful vintage tea room packed to the rafters with comforting chintz and china. Plus,wandering about the café like fluffy megastars are an array of the most beautiful cats.

Like all exclusive places you have to ring a doorbell forentry. Then once your booking is confirmed and you’ve been thoroughly briefed on the rules for keeping the fabulous felines happy and safe, you’re ushered into the café.

The cats themselves lounge here, there and everywhere and, like all celebrities, will probably ignore your arrival. If you’re cat lovers like us, you’ll sit in excited anticipation hoping that one might grace you with a disinterested glance. Whilst picking them up is prohibited, you canstroke them as they lay awake curled up close by in beds, scratch stands or the customer seating. Quite frankly it’s impossible not to – they’re beautiful. When Hamlet (a Himalayan Persian) approached our table to meow loudly, brushpast our hands and sit on one of our chairs we were thrilled.

Sitting in such close quarters and eating your lunch with a menagerie of cats is surreal. Also, they’re clearly very used to people and they’re not rushing over to be petted. However, it’s all utterly charming and you’ll find yourself infused with the lazy calm of cats.

ShakesPaw Cat Café is a soothing step-outside the norm where cats rule in force and their welfare is central. If cats are your thing it won’t be a wasted journey. Plus, the food is fabulous and really excellent value for money. I had delicious Belgian waffles with lavender sugar and lemon and a pot of Earl Grey tea. It’s also worth noting that the café works in conjunction with Peppers Pet Rescue to house and socialise needy cats.  

Booking via the website is a must and entry is charged at £6 per person for a 90-minute visit and you’ll pay the cost of your food on top.

ShakesPaw Cat Café

6 Union Street

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Warwickshire

CV37 6QT