The Black Cat Cafe

10/06/2026

Hi Black Cat friends!
Just wanted to share this fabulous event for a lovely very local charity Team Torri being held in our village

Please share and support this fabulous event.
All details are on the picture

See you there!

10/06/2026

Hi All!

We’ve made some great progress over the last couple of days, apologies if you came along to visit us and found us closed, I promise it’s worth it !
Unfortunately we will have to remain closed tomorrow as I need some muscles first thing to help life appliances in place.
So if anyone is around and can help please let me know as we are desperate to re open!

A bacon sarnie and coffee awaits anyone that can help!
Cheers

04/06/2026

💛A little heartfelt message from all of us @ The Black Cat Cafe💛

It's been an incredibly quiet week here at the café. Over the last two days we've welcomed just 20 customers through our doors, and with the weather doing its best to keep everyone indoors, it's certainly been challenging.

We completely understand that times are tough and many people are having to cut back. But if you're thinking of treating yourself to a coffee, meeting a friend for a catch-up, or simply finding a cosy corner to escape the rain, we'd love you to think of us.

☕ Delicious hot drinks
🍰 Freshly baked cakes
🐾 Dog-friendly atmosphere
🛋️ Warm, cosy surroundings
😊 A genuinely friendly welcome every time

Small independent businesses like ours rely on support throughout the week, not just at weekends. Every coffee, cake and visit really does make a difference.

And while we're doing everything we can to keep going, it's hard to ignore the impact of the 20% VAT hospitality businesses pay on every sale. On quiet days like these, handing over a fifth of our takings feels tougher than ever. We desperately need the Government to look again at VAT for hospitality before more independent cafés, pubs and restaurants disappear from our high streets.

If you've been meaning to pop in, we'd love to see you this week. Bring a friend, bring the dog, and enjoy a little slice of comfort while supporting a local business that truly appreciates every customer.

Thank you for being part of our community. ❤️

Find us at Gains Cross, DT11 0QP

03/06/2026

🎉 Exciting News at Black Cat Café! 🎉

If you've visited us recently, you'll know we've been working out of what is essentially a small domestic kitchen with limited storage space. As our little café has grown, that setup has sometimes made things challenging behind the scenes and, on occasion, impacted the service we strive to deliver. If you've ever experienced that, we're genuinely sorry.

The truth is, nobody could have predicted just how popular Black Cat Café would become—especially at weekends when things can get a little... lively in the kitchen! 🐾☕

To help us keep up with demand and make your visits even better, we're thrilled to announce some exciting improvements to our kitchen and storage areas.

✨ What's changing?

Our biggest upgrade is moving our dish clearing and washing operation out of the main café area. This means:

Less noise while you're enjoying your coffee and cake
A cleaner, more welcoming environment
A smoother experience for both customers and staff

You may also have noticed our new food buzzer system. When your food is ready, your buzzer will light up and you can simply pop inside to collect it from the counter.

We know this one might divide opinion (a bit like Marmite! 😉), but we're confident it will help us streamline service during our busiest periods, allowing our team to stay on top of everything and serve you more efficiently.

🔨 When is the work happening?

To make all this happen, we'll need one extra day for builders, electricians, decorating, equipment installation, and reorganising our storage areas.

Black Cat Café will be closed on Tuesday 9th June.

We'll be back open as usual afterwards and can't wait to welcome you to an even better Black Cat Café experience.

Thank you for your continued support—it's because of you that we're making these improvements, and we can't wait to show you the results! 🖤🐱

Come see us at Unit 7, Gains Cross, DT11 0QP

Pinned post can be found at the top of our page with useful information inc opening times.

02/06/2026

☕ We're Hiring! Barista/Café Assistant Wanted ☕

Our lovely Ruby is heading off to university, so we're looking for a passionate Barista/Café Assistant to join our small, friendly team on Sundays approx 9-3pm.

We're after someone who:
✨ Is over 18 years old
✨ Has café/barista experience
✨ Can drive (our location makes this essential)
✨ Is flexible, enthusiastic, and keen to learn
✨ Loves getting stuck into café life with a smile

Bonus points if you enjoy creating fun latte art, get excited about new drink ideas, or have a knack for making customers' day just a little bit brighter! ☕🎨

As with any café, some days are wonderfully busy, and some days are a little calmer... although we never mention the Q word (if you know, you know! 😉).

There will also be opportunities for extra hours during the summer and our busier months.

Pay will be based on age and experience.

If this sounds like your cup of tea (or coffee!), we'd love to hear from you.

📧 Email us at [email protected]

Our address is Unit 7, Gains Cross, Blandford Forum, DT11 0QP



**Please note this job is not suitable for under 18yrs old**

27/05/2026

Another scorcher on the way today! ☀️
Yesterday the kitchen hit a toasty 28 degrees — despite the fans working overtime — so it’s been a pretty warm few days for the team! 🥵🍳

Now… some of you may have spotted a few whispers and rumours floating around about exciting new things happening in our little corner of heaven… 👀

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that we’ll soon be joined by Muddy Paws Fields 🐾
The field at the bottom of our garden is being transformed into a secure dog park — and honestly, we couldn’t think of a more perfect addition. We LOVE welcoming your four-legged friends, so this feels like a match made in heaven! 🐶💚

Please give them a like, follow and share so you can be first to hear about their opening day and all the exciting updates to come!

Back to us…
We’ll be opening a little earlier today at 9:30am, serving breakfast until 11am, followed by lunch through until 2pm 🍳🥪

And with weather like this, it’s definitely the perfect excuse for an ice cream or an iced latte 🍦🧊☕
So pop down, cool off, and come say hello!
Find us at Gains Cross, DT11 0QP

Have a brilliant day everyone — we can’t wait to see you soon 💛

Private and secure 1.5 acre dog field, located in Gains Cross, Blandford Forum.

25/05/2026

Even on my day off I’m cooking bacon 🤪
Please don’t forget we are closed today as is normal for a Monday.
We will be mostly seeking shade in the garden enjoying some family time.
Whatever you guys are up to, stay safe and please don’t walk your dogs in this heat, it’s just not worth it!
See you tomorrow
Sarah and Team Black Cat

23/05/2026

☀️ Sunshine, sweet treats & family time await at Gains Cross! 🍰🍦🌿

Make the most of the sunny weather and start half term the right way with a visit to us. From freshly baked cinnamon buns and delicious homemade cakes to a perfect Purbeck Ice Cream, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Bring the family, relax in our beautiful sunny garden, and enjoy the countryside atmosphere. Whether you walk, run, ride, cycle or drive — there are so many ways to find us! 🚶‍♀️🏃🚴🚗

🐶 Dog friendly
🚴 Cycle friendly
🥓 Serving breakfast until 11am
🕒 Open until 3pm

📍 Gains Cross, DT11 0QP

Come and treat yourself this half term — we can’t wait to welcome you! 💛

21/05/2026

Hi All

So we are looking for the following to join us on Saturday 1st August at the cafe for our summer event, we are going to be open all day until 7pm
Serving Pizzas from 3-6pm

*facepainter
*bouncy castle (tbc)
*craft stalls
*local artists
*animal charity stall (no treats)
*sweet stall
*local food producers ie honey, jams, sauces etc (not to be consumed on site)

Cost of the pitch will be a donation to the raffle with proceeds going to a local charity (tbc)

No food or drinks stalls sorry!

Please tag and share, email us at [email protected] to book your space.

19/05/2026

🌧️💨 It’s wet, windy and wild outside… but don’t let the weather stop you from supporting local!

It’s warm and cosy inside with a friendly welcome waiting for you ☕🐾

Freshly baked sausage rolls with caramelised red onion chutney are BACK on the menu by popular demand 😍🥐

We’re here until 2.30pm today.
Wednesday 10-2.30pm
Thursday and Friday 9.30-3pm
Saturday and Sunday 9-3pm

Extended summer hours coming soon

✔️ Free parking
✔️ Warm welcome
✔️ Dog friendly

📍 Gains Cross, DT11 0QP