We never imagined we would have to write something like this. But after nearly three years of putting our hearts, time and personal resources into Munchies, we feel we need to share something that has left us deeply worried about our future.
Another cat café has opened almost directly opposite us in Brighton, advertising an entrance fee of just £3 compared to our £11.99.
We fully respect everyone's right to open a business, and we understand that competition is part of running one. But we genuinely struggle to understand why someone would choose to open an almost identical, highly specialised business directly opposite an existing one, targeting the same limited customer base.
It feels incredibly unfair, and we cannot pretend that we aren't upset and frightened by what this could mean for everything we've worked so hard to build.
We Are a Much Smaller Business Than You Might Think
We deliberately chose to establish a small-scale business, recognising both Brighton's limited market for such a specialised concept and the exceptionally high costs of operating in the city centre, including commercial rent and business rates.
From the outside, Munchies may sometimes appear busier or more commercially successful than it actually is. However, our limited capacity and structured hourly booking system can create that impression, which doesn't necessarily reflect our overall customer numbers or financial performance.
The reality is that operating a specialist business with such limited capacity, while maintaining high standards of animal welfare and covering substantial fixed costs, leaves very little room for profitability.
Why Our Entrance Fee Is Necessary
A cat café cannot operate like an ordinary coffee shop. We have strict capacity limits to protect our cats' welfare, while our expenses remain exceptionally high.
We need at least two staff members even on our quietest days. Beyond everyday operating expenses, we face substantial ongoing costs, including specialist business and cat insurance, veterinary care, medication, cat food, litter, cleaning supplies, utilities, rent, business rates, staff wages and accounting fees.
On top of these, there are numerous additional expenses that are often overlooked, such as council fees, licensing and permit renewals, waste management, fire safety inspections, equipment servicing, regulatory compliance requirements and the ongoing administrative costs of maintaining a fully licensed and compliant business.
We have eight resident rescue cats who depend on us every single day. And many of these costs are unavoidable, recurring expenses that continue regardless of how many customers we welcome through our doors.
Our entrance fee isn't designed to make us wealthy. It's what helps us keep this small business running while providing the standard of care our cats deserve.
We understand that £3 sounds much more attractive, particularly for families. But please don't assume that our prices are unreasonable simply because another business has chosen to charge significantly less.
We cannot speak for their costs or business model. We can only explain what it takes to operate ours responsibly.
Why We Opened Other Businesses
Some people might wonder why we've opened Purrfect Space and Istanbull Katz if Munchies isn't highly profitable.
The answer is simple: those businesses were not funded by enormous profits from Munchies.
We had other financial opportunities and chose to invest those resources into creating more spaces for rescue cats rather than spending them on ourselves.
We also deliberately developed different concepts, a co-working space and a cat wine house, because we understood that opening another traditional cat café in Brighton would mean competing for the same limited customers.
Today, we're carrying the financial responsibility of keeping three businesses alive. I'm still working tirelessly, worrying about bills and doing everything I can to make this work.
This has never been an easy or particularly profitable journey. We've continued because we believe in what we're creating.
Our Cats Are Our Responsibility for Life
Our cats aren't simply part of a business.
I've spent time studying feline welfare, completed a Level 3 feline qualification and worked closely with rescue organisations and veterinary professionals for years.
We've cared for cats with complicated medical conditions, invested heavily in their treatment and experienced the heartbreak of losing some of them.
If Munchies ever had to close, our eight resident cats would always remain our responsibility.
But losing Munchies would mean losing the home, community and future rescue opportunities we've worked so hard to create.
And that possibility genuinely terrifies us.
A Personal Request to Our Community
We are not asking anyone to attack another business or take sides.
But we are asking you to understand why this situation feels so unfair and why we're so worried.
Imagine spending almost three years building something, sacrificing your time, savings and personal life, only to see an almost identical business opening directly opposite you at a fraction of your price.
How would you feel?
We don't know what the future holds, but we aren't giving up. We'll continue doing everything we can for our cats, our team and the community we've built.
All we ask is that you please take the time to understand our situation and don't judge or compare us simply on entrance prices.
There is so much more behind those prices than people might realise.
If you could take a moment to read and understand our story, it would genuinely mean the world to us.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Munchies over the past three years. We truly hope we'll be able to continue welcoming you and caring for our cats for many more years.
With love and gratitude,
Ash (Owner) & The Munchies Team