Launching of a London Rat Cafe! - London Dungeon creates quirky cafe where customers can drink with rats in a bid to remodel their image.
London Dungeon – an enclave of spooky corridors and shock-tactic exhibits which looks at the darker side of the history of the capital city – is celebrating the opening of its Rat Café, and with it, the chance for guests to enjoy a nice mug of ‘Ratuccino’ or a slice of ‘Black Forest Rateux’.
Health and safety officials will be relieved to hear that neither food nor drink at the Rat Café includes rats as genuine ingredients – but willing guests can, if they so choose, enjoy both while the little creatures dash about the room, or even sit on their shoulders.
Although this unusual form of catering is largely for fun, there is also a mildly serious point to it – an attempt to rehabilitate the image of a much-maligned creature.
‘Rats have been tarnished with an undeserved reputation throughout history – from the Black Death of the Middle Ages to the great stink of Victorian times,’ says Hywel Mathias of London Dungeon. ‘We wanted to challenge those perceptions and show they are actually characterful and full of fun.’
‘Our café lets people get even closer, handle them, stroke them and really get to know them.’
Although the Rat Café was a one-off for a group of rat-loving guests, London Dungeon is considering making the idea a regular event.
‘Judging by first reactions, this pop-up rat café could become a regular date on the eccentric things to do calendar,’ Mr Hywel says.
I am going to go there!
Where we should have lunch on a Vulture trip to London.
