The Cats' Den Coffee House
Darlington, Durham
The Cats' Den Coffee House is Darlington's first cat cafe, opened in autumn 2025 on High Northgate, just north of the town centre. It is run by its owners with their own group of eight cats, including a Maine Coon, who play and nap among cat trees, beds and toys next to the cafe seating. Visits are booked online with a small deposit and the rest of the entry fee paid on arrival, and there is a reduced rate for over-65s on Wednesdays. Children under six are not admitted. Guests wear shoe covers and sanitise their hands before going in, the cats must not be picked up or woken, and visitors may only give the treats provided by the cafe. The menu is kept simple, with coffee, tea, soft drinks, sandwiches, muffins and prepacked snacks. The cafe opens Wednesday to Sunday.