It is one of the most famous cobbled streets in the world, where Geoffrey Chaucer’s Miller, Knight and co took the final steps of their pilgrimage.

But now, Mercery Lane will welcome a very different type of Canterbury Tails.

The city’s first-ever “cat cafe” is set to open just a stone’s throw away from the Cathedral.

It will offer customers the chance to enjoy a cup of coffee and a catch-up with friends in the company of more than a dozen moggies.

Launching the business is a dream come true for lifelong cat lover Pip Harris, 25.

“My family’s always had cats,” she said.

“I’ve been taking in more over the last few years, from people rehoming them for all sorts of reasons. We currently have 22.”

News of the cat cafe has created a buzz online. Some are keen to visit and pleased to see a new venture launching after a challenging year for the high street.

But it has also been met with concern from others who are worried about the animals’ welfare.

Yet Pip stresses that only about 18 cats she feels are suited to the environment will be coming to the cafe - including sphynx, maine coon, ragdoll, oriental and Siamese.

“For some, the cafe situation would be too stressful,” she said.

“But these cats are happy with people coming and going and they’ve all lived together for months, if not years. They’re very used to a very social and busy environment.”

It was during a break from studying computer animation at the University for the Creative Arts that Pip came up with a way to turn her love of cats into a career.

“I wasn’t really enjoying my course and realised that wasn’t really what I wanted to do,” she explained.

“I took a year out and reassessed.

“Then I decided I wanted to open a cat cafe.

“So I finished my degree, and started working on making it happen.”

Pip has since been saving up while living at her family home in Rochester with her mum, younger brother, and grandmother.

“At one point I had three jobs going,” she said. “All my life savings are gone.”

After more than a year spent searching for the “perfect” location, she has now bought the freehold on the huge building, with some help from family members who have invested in her idea.

“I’m really excited,” said Pip. “I love Canterbury.

“It’s a great place for a cat cafe. It has a lot of tourists, students and locals who live in flats - people who might love cats but can’t have them.”

The premises - which was most recently a vape shop - is spread across four floors.

The cafe will cover the bottom two, while the upper two are being converted into a flat where Pip will live with her partner.

“The building itself is over 2,000 sq ft,” she said.

“The cats will have the full run of the building all the time - they can go wherever they want.

“Some people have said ‘cats need their own garden’, but actually some of them don’t.

“A lot of my cats don’t want to be outside - they get very panicked when they get out by accident and just sit outside the door and yowl.

"As long as you’re providing a large and stimulating enough environment for them which also has quiet areas, indoor cats are completely fine.”

Pip also hopes to turn the roof area into a cat-friendly space in future.

The cafe will offer a range of drinks and food, and will cater for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diets.

Once inside, visitors must adhere to house rules.

“Customers will be able to play with and stroke the cats,” said Pip. “If a cat chooses to come sit on their laps, that’s fine.

“We just ask that they don’t bother a sleeping cat, pick up cats or follow cats that are trying to walk away.

“The cats will have access to the upper two floors, so they can get away if they should want to.

“It’s all very much about looking after the cats.”

Security shutters will be installed on windows, to protect the animals in the event a pane of glass is smashed, while “cat nannies” will help care for them if Pip is away.

The wheelchair-accessible building will be fronted by a shop, which will offer a range of cat-related merchandise made by Pip and other local makers, and provide a double door between the cats and the street outside.

Upstairs, the first floor will act as an events area that may be booked out for parties.

“I also want to run groups there - maybe a crochet group, or yoga sessions,” said Pip. “I’d also love to work with care homes to provide experience days with the cats for older people.

“I really just want to make this a really fun, community sort of place.”

The business is expected to open in autumn.

Visit Canterbury Tails Cat Cafe on Facebook.

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