
The cat is out of the bag as Cat Cafe Manchester has announced that it will be making a purr-fect return to the city once more. Back in January 2021, the cat cafe sadly closed the doors to its Northern Quarter site, now home to popular bakery and cafe Gooey, but now it has a new spot to call home.
The cat cafe teased its return on social media, saying: “Manchester we’ve missed you. There’s only one thing this place needs”. Alongside the post was a photo of the old Classic Football Shirts site in Barton Arcade on Deansgate, giving a strong hint of its new location.
Four years ago as the nation found themselves in another lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cat Cafe Manchester announced its closure as a result of the second lockdown, as they were unable to re-open ever due to Manchester being in Tier 4 (remember those days?) The cat cafe also said in 2021: “Our lease at 103 High Street is coming to an end and unfortunately we haven’t been able to agree new terms with our landlord. It has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, but as it stands we simply cannot afford to continue in our current unit.”
The cafe was home to ten resident cats, which were rehomed between family and staff members, and it served a breakfast and lunch menu alongside hot drinks. However since their Manchester closure, The Cat Cafe opened a branch in Liverpool, with the same mission to make animal assisted therapy accessible to everyone.
With the help of the “cuddliest, loveliest feline friends”, the cat cafe aims to help people feel better whilst educating children and adults about the needs of the pets. Cat Cafe UK follows the traditional Japanese model where instead of paying for food and drink, you pay for time. You book a slot for as long as you like, and all drinks are unlimited and free of charge.
At the Liverpool site, they allow entry to anyone over the age of 10 years old with specific hours for 4-9 year olds available on a daily basis. They have also created a community by hosting book clubs, cat yoga, movie nights, and sessions designed specifically for people with autism and special educational needs.
Cat Cafe Manchester is set to reopen at a new location in Barton Arcade in 2025.