Overview

I have been visiting the Purrple Cat Cafe for many years and I have never had any accessibility issues. All visits, including those for special occasions or the regular events such as "Bingo with Cats" or "Craft Club" are fully accessible. There is only one toilet and it is a disabled toilet. The decorations are beautiful and the cats, well, they are the best thing. Whether they are running around on the ground or on the cat walks, Scrapping like siblings and housemates do or just climbing on your for a cuddle it is so much fun. All bookings are made online or over the telephone, although there is a window from which you can buy most of the regular menu as a takeaway and where you could, if there was space in a session, book a session. Memberships are available which go towards the Kitties upkeep including the vet bills. As a wheelchair user I always make this known on the booking form, despite being a member, just in case whoever is organising the day is new and doesn't know. I may not move around much because it is such fun just watching the cats get up to mischief or just sleeping but if I need to move, someone will always tell me if a cat has gone under the chair. This is the cat's home and visitors may not pick the cats up but if the cats climb on you, as they sometimes do, that is fine. There are really only two rules; never wake a sleeping cat and do not feed the cats or allow them to get to your food. Some of them really love human food lol. I heartily recommend the Purrple Cat Cafe to anyone who loves cats or animals in general.

Transport & Parking

There is a bus stop just outside the cafe and one just down the street on Gallowgate. As a wheelchair user, I use my car and with my blue badge can park on Gallowgate without charge.

Access

The signage may be a little small, personally I would like it bigger than any other sign but that is just me. However, once you know the sign, it is relatively easy to see from a distance down Argyle Street, Gallowgate or Saltmarket/High Street. There is a small ramp into the building and because it is a listed building the doors are narrow but if both are opened and they always are for me, there is no problem getting in and out. I had not problems with the menus except things change and favourite items are no longer available. This does give a chance to try out new things though. There is plenty of space for moving about within the cafe.

Toilets

One disabled toilet for everyone. There is no room for others and due to listed status this cannot be changed. This is not really a problem though. The toilet has grab rails and a red cord. There is plenty of space for moving around with or without footplates, which is a bonus. It is not a changing places toilet and I do not think it is big enough to become one. There is plenty of space for two people in the room. There is also a baby change table.

Staff

The Staff are wonderful, after all they all love cats. They are always ready to answer questions on any subject and they are a living wage employer. The staff come from all over the UK and Europe and they go above and beyond anything you might need to help.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Hand gel is available on every table and before going into the cafe in the small vestibule. Masks are optional at this time but when they were compulsory, they were worn whenever moving around the cafe. When you were sat at your table, you could remove the mask. I will be going again this week and I would and do recommend it to others, sometimes strangers in the street who were curious, as I did last time I went for Craft Club

Photos