Little Lark of London

If you’ve walked down Bread Street in Edinburgh in the past few days, you almost definitely have noticed something different – a pink building with giant photos of pugs plastered over its front. CuppaPug has arrived, bringing with it a delightful burst of colour, a place to relax and, as one might guess by the name, pugs! Visitors have the opportunity to book time to go in and cuddle with over a dozen different pugs, while also enjoying some food and drink from the café itself – just in time for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! 

CuppaPug makes something very clear – the space belongs to the pugs, and they come first. There are plenty of house rules to keep everyone safe while still having a fun time, and the space has been designed to allow the pugs to move freely and choose when they want to interact with visitors. The organisation is also partnered with The National Pug Protection Trust, with a mission to “influence adoption and responsible breeding choices while giving every pug the love and care they deserve.”

Once visitors are settled on the benches going around the edge of the room, the pugs are released into the room from the private residence, accompanied by CuppaPug’s debut single, “Who Let The Pugs Out!” It’s an absolutely adorable way to introduce all of the pugs as they come rushing in, nails skittering across the floor as they come to consume the carrots visitors have been given upon entry. 

The owners of CuppaPug, partners Aaron Carty and Matthew Pieterse, own ten pugs who are the “residents” of the cafes across the UK, with the social media star Gizmo leading the pack – though my favourite is the sweetheart known as Gaston, an older pug with only one eye. Other staff members have also brought their own pugs from home to add to the pack. Some of the pugs are available to be adopted, each wearing a bright pink bandana to indicate that they are ready to find a new home. Visitors can even bring their own pug and receive a discount on the admission price!

There is a wide array of food and drink that can be purchased, including coffee, milkshakes, smoothies, toasties and pastries. There are even several dog treats that can be purchased for visitors to feed to the pugs, leading to plenty of attention and some great photo opportunities! Having got a “Puggacino” myself, I found myself overwhelmed (in the best way!) by pugs running over from every angle, with my friend taking pictures for me to look at after the experience.

One of the best aspects of CuppaPug is that visitors can choose the level of interaction they have within the space. They can invent themselves in playing with the pugs as there are plenty of toys scattered around (and even a ball pit!), or they can simply sit and chat with their friends with a pug in their lap and a coffee in hand. During the hour I was booked in for, I was able to have both of these experiences, starting with a bunch of excited pugs jumping around in search of carrots and ending with one starting to fall asleep on my lap, exhausted from the hour of play. It was also a great way for me to take a break from the chaos of seeing up to ten shows a day, allowing myself to relax for what felt like the first time in a week!

As the location had only had its soft opening the day before I attended, there were still a few kinks to iron out, including sawdust in the storage spaces for bags and a temporary menu as the team settles in. The staff members are still getting used to the space as well, figuring out the best spots for visitors to sit in to get the best experience and getting all of the different names of the pugs memorised – quite the challenge! But, even with small things like this, everyone working at CuppaPug is friendly and ready to welcome visitors from around the world to the pink place.

Ultimately, CuppaPug is a delightful addition to the themed cafes of Edinburgh, giving visitors the opportunity to take a break from the chaos of the Fringe or even from life as a whole, sitting down and cuddling with a bunch of adorable pugs. I look forward to returning next year and will definitely be making some stops at the location in London before then!

CuppaPug has locations in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, California, Texas and Las Vegas. For more information and to make a booking, click here.