The Llanrumney-based business received over 700 votes to win
SCRUFFY Pups dog groomer and café have been named Britain’s best new dog-friendly business by WeLoveDogs.
The business on Ball Lane received over 700 votes for the award – which is run in partnership with PocketVet – and won £1,000 to put towards their dog-friendly business.
Owners Joanna Sims, 38, and Jamal Romeh, 41, are delighted to have won the UK-wide award.
“It feels amazing, it’s just what we needed after all that hard work we’ve put in, to see it paying off,” said Joanna.
Jamal said: “There were some other really good businesses involved as well, but I think we’ve made an impact in the area, and the locals really pushed on and helped us win this award.”
The idea of combining a dog groomer and a café came when the pair realised that the business was located on the dog walk through Llanrumney.
They also felt that Scruffy Pups needed something more to stand out.
“When people are waiting for their dogs to be washed, they want teas and coffees. We built upon a foundation, and we’re still building upon it now,” said Jamal.
They have expanded their business since opening in August 2020 and now sell their dog treats on UberEats and Deliveroo.
Treats such as doggy doughnuts and chicken and liver omelettes are some of the many treats your pooch could tuck into.
Joanna and Jamal value the importance of dogs in their business and put them first.
Joanna said: “The dogs come first in this place, it’s a dog café, we put the dog before the human.”
“We do puppy association, where your puppy can play with other puppies, and we also do puppy obedience training. You can bring your puppy to play here and then socialise with other puppies.
“We’ll be your groomers for life,” added Jamal.
Making Scruffy Pups a success hasn’t been easy. Opening in the middle of a pandemic meant Joanna and Jamal had to deal with lockdowns and uncertainty over when they could open.
“It was up and down. We’d get to a good place and then we had lockdowns, it was disheartening.
“But it made us more determined, if we could get through that we can get through anything else that’s chucked our way,” said Joanna.
Jamal and Joanna will put the money from the award to build a roof over the outdoor area so that dogs can play sheltered from the rain and cold weather.
Many customers voted for Scruffy Pups in the award, and they are very happy with the service provided by the business.
Wendy Phillips from Llanrumney brings her seven-year-old boxer to Scruffy Pups for grooming.
She said: “She can be very moody, but they make sure I have an appointment for a quiet day, so she hasn’t got to be there when there are other dogs.
“They go above and beyond for their clients and their owners.”
Fred is another dog who enjoys Scruffy Pups, and at only 16 weeks-old his owner Heather Bennett travels from Penarth to enjoy the café and get him groomed.
“I saw Scruffy Pups on Facebook, and they give him a way to run around in an enclosed area. I 100% will be taking him to obedience classes,” said Heather.
If you’d like to book your pooch in for a groom or simply want to get them a doggy doughnut, you can see all the information on their Facebook page.
