Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, a beloved feline haven nestled in Bethnal Green, is preparing to close its doors on 23 June after more than a decade of delighting Londoners and tourists alike. Citing “uncontrollable debt” and rising operational costs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, founder Lauren Pears described the decision to shut the UK’s oldest cat café as “incredibly hard”.
Opened in 2014, Lady Dinah’s was the first of its kind in Britain, offering tea, cake, and the company of rescue cats in a tranquil, whimsical setting. It quickly became a cult favourite and a must-visit spot for animal lovers. However, like many small businesses, the café struggled to recover from the financial turmoil brought on by the pandemic, with delayed restructuring efforts proving too little, too late.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope. Freja, the café’s current manager, has stepped forward with plans to buy the business’s assets and relaunch it under new leadership. She believes that with a leaner operation and a fresh start, the iconic venue can still be saved.
Freja has launched a crowdfunder, raising £26,967 of her £50,000 target at the time of writing. “With a smaller team, reduced costs, and renewed focus, I truly believe Lady Dinah’s can survive and thrive again,” she said. “The funds raised will directly support the purchase of the café’s assets and the establishment of a more sustainable model—one that preserves what people love, while adapting to the future.”
Whether the business is sold or not, all 20 resident cats will be rehomed to loving environments. Prospective adopters have been invited to register their interest online. Lauren Pears has assured supporters that “every cat will be rehomed with the same care and consideration we’ve always upheld”.
The café was founded with a dual mission: to bring people together through a shared love of cats and to offer rescue felines a safe, enriching space before finding them permanent homes. Over the years, the café has been credited with raising awareness of animal welfare and providing a therapeutic environment for visitors.
Yet cat cafés have not escaped criticism. In 2015, Lady Dinah’s was targeted by vandals who painted “free the cats” on its shutters, although no allegations of mistreatment were made. Animal welfare charities such as the RSPCA and Cats Protection remain sceptical of the concept, citing concerns about cats’ wellbeing in such environments.
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Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, commented: “While cats, cake, and coffee might be a pleasant mix for visitors, the café environment can be stressful for cats. Their welfare must come first.”
Conversely, some experts have taken a more nuanced view. Andy Sparkes, veterinary director at International Cat Care, told the BBC: “Domestic cats have evolved and, in the right conditions, many can live in groups comfortably.”
Freja maintains that cat welfare is central to the café’s ethos. “We enforce strict rules: no picking up cats, no disturbing them during meals or naps, no human food, and no flash photography,” she explained. “We also have a minimum age limit of 12 to protect cats from overstimulation.”
She added: “Our cat care team is always on-site to ensure both guests and cats are comfortable. The café is designed with feline enrichment in mind, offering scratch posts, climbing structures, and wall furniture. And above all, every cat here is destined for a forever home. That’s always been our mission.”
For fans of Lady Dinah’s, there’s still time to visit—and perhaps, with enough support, to ensure the purrs continue.
