A Lewisham dog café offering doggy day-care and food is in the running to win at this year's Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards.

Snuffle Dog Café and Wine Bar in Lower Sydenham is run by founder Silvia Fois who had a desire to create a space that allowed dog owners to include their dogs in social activities.

Silvia explained: “We believe that our four-legged family deserve to be a part of our daily lives and social experiences.

“Snuffle Dog Café started with a simple dream: to create a haven for both dogs and their humans. We believe that dogs are not just pets; they're family.

“That's why we've created a space at Snuffle where dog lovers and their canine companions can come together to enjoy good food, great drinks, and community.”

News Shopper: Snuffle Dog Cafe in Lewisham Snuffle Dog Cafe in Lewisham (Image: Silvia Fois)

The café serves a range of foods including breakfast, light snacks, sandwiches and pastries as well as Italian specialities like Tuscan focaccia and Piadina.

The business first opened its doors in October 2022, and within 12 months Snuffle Dog Café was one of seven businesses in the running to win an award for Best New Business at the Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards 2023.

The award ceremony is set to take place on November 7 at Catford Broadway Theatre, where the winners across 14 categories will be named.

Silvia said: “I feel humble and honoured to be nominated, it was completely unexpected but very much appreciated.

“Since we opened the response of people has been enthusiastic and supportive, and a lot of local people made Snuffle their home.”

Snuffle Dog Café currently occupies the building that was once home to the Talma Tavern pub, which dated back to 1866 and closed its doors in 2013.

Silvia said: “It was quite a famous pub and a lot of people have come since the opening to tell us their memories there.

“I worked with the architects to obtain a big contrast between the black outside, to remind locals of the old pub, but the inside is very colourful and cheery.”

Despite no longer being a working pub, the building hasn’t strayed too far from its original use, and Snuffle Dog Café still operates a wine bar for visitors who fancy a drink.

When asked which breed Silvia believed was Lewisham’s “most popular” she answered that among all the dogs the most common breed she saw was the cockapoo - which, according to the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), is one of the UK’s most popular puppies, making up 6.2 percent of dogs across the UK.

As well as being a café and wine bar, Snuffle also offers a doggy day-care service, bookable between 8am-6pm on weekdays, along with puppy training classes every Tuesday.

There are also yoga classes for children every Sunday morning, and Silva added that the café would soon be introducing a “Supper Club this month.”

Describing the restaurant, Silvia said she would describe it as a “paradise for dog lovers” even if they didn’t own one themselves.