We went to Nottingham’s Halloween Pug Cafe event and found out how one couple’s hobby turned into a business…
Family and friends gathered with their furry friends to attend the pop-up Pug Cafe’s Halloween special event on Sunday October 27. Hundreds of dog owners and dog lovers attended in celebration of Halloween at Revolution bar, The Cornerhouse, with a selection of prizes up for grabs for the best spook-tacularly dressed pooch and best twinning pooch-owner outfits – and might I say, the competition was very high!
Dogs and their owners were able to share a free Pugkin Spice Puguccino together in a safe environment for some off-lead fun and lots and lots of cuddles! Humans were also able to enjoy a Halloween special menu as well as their pets including Howl-O-Ween pitchers and other spooky themed spritzers. The winners of the competitions were given goodie bags and a victory badge.
Separate sessions were open to Dachshunds and Pugs which ran throughout the day with a catered Halloween themed dog friendly menu where pooches could indulge in organic treats including DOGnuts, PUPcakes and PAWTY-rings that owners could purchase if they wished to do so.
The beautifully decorated treats were hand-made by Abbey, head baker and owner of ‘Rudi’s The Doggy Bakery’ and include honey, apple, ginger and many more beneficial ingredients. Her business not only offers seasonal themed treats, but even birthday cakes and personalised bones for your pooches too – I know what I’ll be buying my for dog this Christmas. So if you are looking for healthy, organic treats for your furry companion, Rudi’s The Doggy Bakery has something for everyone.
Amongst all the waggy-tailed mayhem, I was lucky enough to speak to James Morgan, the event organiser and partner to Pug Cafe Owner, Anushka Fernando, to discuss about what all the bark was about.
The company started up back in 2017 in Surrey, inspired by their pug, Bertie, who at only four months old, suffered a spinal problem that affected his mobility. Prior to surgery, from the Supervet, the couple were told there was a very big chance that their dog was not going to make it. Fortunately, Bertie had survived the surgery but was crate-bound for four months. Due to his health conditions, the eight month old puppy was left with very little socialisation from the outside world.
Originally, Anushka had organised a pug meet-up in order to enable her pup to socialise more but when winter struck, she hired out cafes to continue the fun in the warm. The events soon hit Surrey’s local newspaper and over two thousand people had applied for a ticket to attend the next pop-up event. Now, two and a half years later, the couple have travelled up and down the UK, turning normal cafes into dog cafes for the day and spreading their passion for pugs in many towns and big cities. Dachshunds and Frenchies soon joined the events, growing the pooch passion further.
James commented: “It’s kind of like a hobby that’s gone a bit out of control.” He also shared the inspiration behind dachshunds joining the pooch posse, saying: “My friend’s actually got five and it was Trevor’s birthday.”
The inspiration, Bertie himself, only attends local events due to his limited condition but still joins in on all the fun as well as scoffing down a treat or two (or three). James said: “He is a greedy pug…He’s got bad back legs and knows how to play the sympathy vote.”
“People here without dogs have been given tiny treats. He will hunt them down, he will sit on their laps and he will eat all the treats and then move on…He will then look like an anaconda that’s eaten a gazelle.”
The business has worked with and been recognised by the national media such as the BBC, The Telegraph, and The Guardian as well as featuring in Glamour Magazine. The business also puts on individual events upon request in collaboration with companies such as film organisations.
James shares: “The last one we did was Chihuahua for a pet teaser and before that, it was a Pomeranian one for Universal Studios, so it’s always quite exciting when they happen. ” He then explained that the couple had split up to host the events this year due to high demands for Halloween.
James Morgan said: “It’s kind of like a thank you to the locations that have really enjoyed it and Nottingham are always dog crazy as well as the people from Birmingham. “Halloween is the big one – it’s not Christmas.”
James also revealed that the couple plan to do some pop up events in February next year in light of Valentine’s Day.
Be sure to check out the Pug Cafe’s social media to see the snapshots from all the events and for more information on their future events, please visit pugcafe.com
By Molly May