Barkery café a hit with four-legged friends

For Chief Barketing Officer, Jack Penniket, the perfect job didn’t exist – so he created it.

On the edge of the Ōtakaro Avon River Corridor, on the corner of New Brighton Road and Brooker Ave, sits the Barkery, the hottest new café in town.

While you’ll find plenty of coffee and tasty treats, you’ll also notice the café’s best customers all have four legs.

The idea struck Jack a few years ago after he rescued his beloved bearded collie Albus.

“Albus brought me so much joy, satisfaction and unconditional love, so I really wanted to create a space where we could celebrate and make it all about our best friends - our dogs,” Jack says.

“I noticed an emerging trend where cafes were encouraging owners to bring their dogs along, but the café was still human-centric. I wanted to reinvent the café experience, putting dogs first and people second.”

With years of experience in volunteering at dog rescue shelters, another important aspect of the café was creating a space that dog groups could enjoy, and use to help find their furry friends their forever home.

“This space allows for a different way people can interact with the dogs, see their true nature and see how they interact with not only other people but other dogs. It provides an opportunity to educate the community on the amazing work involved behind the scenes in rehoming dogs, the process involved in adoption, and why you should consider it.

A greyhound adoption event hosted on Saturday 4 June saw seven dogs find their new best friends

“We have adoption days as often as we can and it’s awesome to see young families come down and have their first experience with dogs. It gives them the chance to see what kind of dog could be the perfect addition to their family, and where possible - they will look at adoption as a first choice.

“Just recently we hosted a greyhounds adoption event with the the Greyhounds as Pets group and we were so thrilled that they found seven dogs their new forever families.” Jack says.

For Christchurch City Council’s Residential Red Zone Manager Dave Little, the café has been a welcome addition to the area, bringing people from all corners into the Regeneration Area and enjoying the space.

“The Barkery has been one of the projects that have benefited from the Red Zone Transitional Use Fund. It’s exactly the kind of concept we envisioned for the area, a true community hub for everyone.

“So whether you’re after a cappuccino or a puppercino and a pupcake, come along - everyone is welcome,” says Jack.

The Barkery is open from 9am Saturday and Sunday.