The Mock Turtle in Beaumaris, Anglesey has been visited by people from across the UK and the world after a TikTok video of the shop went viral (Image: Lotti Summers)
Just when it seemed that the Taylor Swift fandom in Wales was fading, with the European leg of the American popstar’s Era’s Tour coming to an end, it appears she’s here to stay in one corner of the country.
Nestled in the Anglesey community of Beaumaris, a shop and cafe have built their business around all things Taylor Swift, and the public can’t get enough.
The shop, still known as The Mock Turtle – a nod to Alice in Wonderland – now sells Taylor Swift-inspired merchandise.
Meanwhile, the adjoining cafe, where they whip up a variety of Taylor Swift-themed food and drink including homemade cookies, is named ‘August’, after one of Taylor’s popular songs.
Located just across from the Welsh seaside town’s castle, the business has seen a surge in popularity in recent weeks, becoming a social media sensation.
Inside the shop, where they play Taylor Swift music all day as well as sell all sorts of memorabilia (Image: Lotti Summers)
A TikTok creator shared a glimpse of the shop’s interior, and since then, it has become a must-visit for Taylor Swift fans not only in Wales but across the UK and beyond.
“We had some people in from Germany the other day,” business owner Lottie Summers told WalesOnline.
“I have tried to say people can go on the website to order things if they like but lots of people just want to visit and it’s just become a destination in itself.”
Lotti, who was not initially a big fan of Taylor Swift, began incorporating Harry Styles merchandise into her shop.
However, when the Taylor Swift craze escalated about a year ago, she saw an opportunity to include memorabilia that would appeal to Swift’s fans, reports Wales Online.
A view of the cafe, which Swifties have fallen in love with (Image: Lotti Summers)
Outside the business, located on Bulkeley Place, Beaumaris (Image: Lotti Summers)
Lotti, whose favourite Taylor Swift song is ‘August’ – also the name of her shop where they play Swift’s music all day and sell various memorabilia, said: “I love her now. And everyone who works here is Taylor Swift obsessed as well.
“One of our girls in the coffee shop loves her loads, and drives an hour to come and work here. And she makes great coffee too.
“There was a TikTok that was made and it just went viral so it’s all been growing into a monster over the last few weeks, and we’ve had huge deliveries from the Netherlands and America.
“We also did an advert with the lady who made the TikTok who came in for afternoon tea and put it on Facebook and it just exploded, and we’re only tiny but we are now able to employ about eight people.”
There’s lots of treats to choose from -including these Taylor Swift-themed cupcakes (Image: Lotti Summers)
The ‘Red’ album inspired cookies, which have just been launched in time for autumn (Image: Lotti Summers)
Lotti sources from local suppliers and bakers for her coffee shop, and believes that it has helped to uplift people’s spirits when they visit.
“Everyone just leaves with a massive smile on their face,” she said.
“When people see the hand-painted Taylor Swift biscuits they get so excited and come in and buy them in the dozen, can’t keep up.
“The cruise ships are in at the moment and when people come in they are like; ‘Taylor Swift? Here?’ They just love it.
“When people come in, all they want to talk about is Taylor.
“All day the music’s playing, and we’ve just had an artist come in and decorate the walls with a typewriter and the Christian Louboutin boots that she wears on stage and the whole place is full of drawings and artwork that have got Taylor on.
People can also take the coffee down to the beach, as the business is located right next to the coast (Image: Lotti Summers)
The wall art looks like every Swiftie’s dream (Image: Lotti Summers)
“Even the coffee cups have got Taylor on. And everyone that comes in is really sweet and they swap friendship bracelets with the staff and everything. I’ve not met a nasty Swiftie yet.”
She added: “I sold the company about two years ago, and we’d opened the shop just before I sold up.
“We came out of lockdown and I was just sick of accountancy because I was doing like 80 hour weeks during lockdown.
“I’d always loved collecting artist’s memorabilia as a kid so I just thought I’m going to open a shop and make it a bit quirky and a bit different and it was always very pop art-led with the Beatles and a lot of ABBA and funky stuff and then I just started doing Taylor Swift at the same time as Harry Styles and it just took it to another level.”
For more information about the business or to browse the Taylor Swift collection, you can visit The Mock Turtle website here.