Go to this place at least once a week for food for our bird. Staff always very welcoming, chatty…read moreand a good laugh. We enjoy checking in and saying hello to all the animals. The staff do an amazing job at keeping them safe and cared for. Highly recommend do brilliant animals talks an experience We couldn't think of a better place for pet food or even for some information about your pets or even wildlife etc Well done without you guys so many animals would of lost there lives should be proud of the hard work you all do

I want to start by saying that this is a very hard review for me to write as I was…read moreso blown away by the amazing day I had I am struggling to put it into words. Yesterday I went for a venomous snake handling course after visiting the shop previously and learning about the service. The Unconventional Menagerie is an awesome place that rescues animals out of nothing but love in their hearts. They also aim to educate people about these incredible animals. Some of the animals they rescue were due to be destroyed or given up on, some were even considered 'impossible' to deal with but the UM took them in and not only have given them a new chance in life but an amazing quality of life in perfect setups. These animals are now lucky enough to be under the care of Christian and the UM staff who have more knowledge and experience about these species than anyone else I have ever known or seen (I have met a lot of rep keepers, shows, documentaries, books etc). They are truly passionate and dedicated to every individual under their care. ANYWAY THE SNAKE EXPERIENCE I arrived and met with Christian who explained to me the different safety procedures of keeping venomous reptiles from setups, the venom room and safety protocol. I own snakes but the feistiest thing I own is a hognose who is no comparison for who I would be meeting today. I have never used a snake hook before and it is safe to say I was a little nervous and excited. Christian very patiently taught me hook techniques and we practised on non-venomous snakes, I am not the quickest learner and my dexterity isn't great but I felt calm and learned very quickly under Christian's care. He is a fantastic teacher and I soon felt confident with my techniques whilst still having massive respect and caution around these snakes. I lost count of the snakes I met, they were all beautiful and amazing animals, I was told each one's history and what to expect, I was shown the ropes before handling each one. I met and interacted and held several rattlesnakes, spitting cobras, forest cobras, copperheads, sawscale vipers, true cobras, monocled, spectacled you name it. I met a gaboon viper and on some snakes, I was taught how to tube and pin them carefully. My dad and my partner were allowed to watch, take pictures (we even waited for a moment for a few to hood up so we good grab a good picture). I felt VERY safe and went from not having a clue to handling some feisty cobras within the course and with Christian's explanations and demonstrations I felt like I knew exactly what to do each step of the way. I also met a Caiman which I got to hold and saw a green mamba! The course is supposed to be 3 hours but Christian and the staff never made me feel rushed and we actually went over the time by at least an hour (It is hard to keep track of time when being surrounded by all these amazing animals). They even got out a few specific things I wanted to see that wasn't on the list and allowed me to go into the venom room and marvel at the animals before leaving (this was way past the course time I realised after I left). Yesterday beyond a doubt was one of THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE and the staff were so knowledgeable, friendly and patient I felt very safe and very happy. I am 100% going back and doing another course, the value for money is just insane when you think of all the time, money and knowledge not to mention the safety put in place for these sessions. Saying Christian and the staff went above and beyond is a true understatement and I can honestly not recommend this place enough. In a nutshell, if you want to do an experience, buy an animal or do anything with the UM don't think twice, Christian has been working with these animals since a kid as he was taught by family at a very young age and has been working with these animals since a very young age. The wealth of knowledge and experience Christian and the staff have can not be ignored, each animal and customer truly get the best care.