Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium promises purrfect brew

Cat lover: Lauren Pears

Moggacinos and cuddly cuppas are slinking toward East London after plans for the city’s first cat café got the go-ahead.

Building work is now underway at Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, Shoreditch, which is financed with more than £100,000 of public donations and will house a family of ten rescued kitty cats.

A launch date is yet to be announced, but judging by public support, which pushed the project well beyond its funding target, it’s set to be a top hit.

“It’s been really special and wonderful,” says founder Lauren Pears. “I’m astounded by the kindness of people and their willingness to get involved in our project.”

Customers pay £5 or buy a Nine Lives loyalty card to step inside the sumptuous Victorian-style tea parlour, where they can play with the cats while enjoying restorative brews and snacks.

There’s a soapy water station to clean up before heading in and out of the café and sticky rollers to remove any stray hairs from jumpers and trousers.

It’s aimed at pussycat-loving patrons who can’t keep pets themselves, as well as curiosity seekers looking for the purrfect pitstop on the way back from work.

But the cats’ welfare comes first.

There’s a lengthy induction process to get them used to the café and being surrounded by customers and the plans even make space for a two-storey cats-only garden at the back if it all gets a bit much for our furry friends.

“We’re lucky that Shoreditch is also a great place for novel businesses,” says Pears. “Before we announced our location, we were mad cat ladies, but after we announced our location, we became ‘Shoreditch hipsters’ overnight!”

Keep your ears pricked or visit ladydinahs.com for information about the grand opening, a date for which is yet to be set.

152-154 Bethnal Green Road, E2 6DG