Words by Samantha Harman
www.munchiescraft.co.uk
Discover visits Brighton’s only cat cafe and gets up close and personal with the seven cats who live there.
POV – I’m sitting at a table which actually used to be a drum and an orange kitten is giving my Tzatziki ‘Puss in Boots’ eyes. The youngster hasn’t yet grasped the concept of not stealing customers’ food and fluctuates between mega zoomies and stealth mode during my whole visit. Biscuit is four months old and one of the seven cats who reside at Munchies.
I was lucky enough to be invited along by owner Ash to experience cats and tapas, an unlikely and yet inviting combination. The cafe is situated in the heart of the lanes, and is a quirky small building with special modifications. The front window opens all the way to allow in as much air as possible and there’s a cage door inside to prevent the cats from escaping. The cafe is set over two floors and after meeting Oreo, a black and white charmer whose party trick is jumping from table to table while purring his monochrome head off, I decided to venture downstairs to meet the other felines.
Everywhere you look there are spaces for the cats to hide, climb or play and there is also an adjacent room which only they can enter for privacy. I decided to sit quietly in my armchair and let the magic unfold around me and at that moment, Eros, a white Turkish Angora, leapt up behind my head and climbed into the hammock above me. His brother Phobos fell asleep on my bag, while Biscuit tore at high speed through the tunnels. Lady Fi Fi lay curled in a ball unamused by the goings on and I wanted to take them all home with me.
The menu offers breakfast, a variety of small plates and hot, cold and alcoholic drinks. There are various options to choose from during your visit such as ‘cocktails and cats’ (30 mins), ‘express coffee and cats’ (20 mins), and there are longer visits available. Locals can receive a 10% discount and if you become a member, you can block buy time with the cats, which is better value.
Owner Ash is obsessed with her pussies and is looking for a way to allow an adoption process in the future. The cafe has undergone strict inspections from both the council and animal welfare and receives regular surprise visits from both organisations. The venue is clean having passed hygiene inspections, all protocol has been followed.
I will be returning especially during the cold months for a cup of tea and hopefully a cat on my lap.
19 Market Street,
Brighton, BN1 1HH / 01273 227784
www.munchiescraft.co.uk
