Llandudno shop owner submits plans for dog cafe where pets can enjoy ice cream

Pooches and their people could soon enjoy a Llandudno ‘dog café’ where treats such as ‘cap-PAW-ccino’ and doggy ice cream are on offer. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

The owner of Dudley and George’s, a shop specialising in human homeware and dog products, has applied to Conwy’s planning department for permission to add a café to the store. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

The shop at 127 Mostyn Street is already an established business in the town, but owner Jason Pinnick has applied to Conwy’s planning department, seeking permission for a small cafe on the premises. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

If the planning application gets the go-ahead, the business will continue to operate as a shop but with a small café included. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

The business hours will remain the same, being Monday-Friday 8 am – 8 pm, Saturday 8 am- 8 pm, and Sunday/Bank holiday 8 am – 8 pm. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

Jason said he is already selling drinks as a takeaway but needs a different licence to operate as a café. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

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He said: “Customers really love the shop – it is an interactive thing. If they are having a takeaway coffee, a lot of customers sit outside and get ice cream to give to their dog. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“We are talking to customers about their dog’s nutrition and health. There is a customer service level that you just don’t get in national chains. That’s why I’m really passionate about having local independent retailers. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“The ice cream is made with pure fruit. There is no dairy in there at all, so it is completely dog-safe, and you can also refreeze it, which customers love because the dogs don’t have to eat it all. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“We also do it in our best-selling flavour, which is strawberry. The ice cream is hugely popular. It is something we are looking at for next summer. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“We are talking to customers about doing scoopable ice cream in cones for dogs. Since we launched these at the beginning of summer, we’ve sold out so many times.” ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

Llandudno councilllor Louise Emery has written in support of the venture and said she hoped the application would be approved by planning officers, rather than taken to committee. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“I really like the concept of the shop, and it is one of those independent retailers that we really want in Llandudno,” she said. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“You can bring your dog and have a cup of coffee at the back. They have even got frozen ice cream for dogs. Planning has to make sure we are not turning every shop into cafés, but this isn’t a café; it’s a shop with a small café.” ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​