Nestled beside the bustling Platform 2 at Sutton Coldfield Railway Station, a unique community café faced the threat of closure earlier this year after a complaint about its most popular regular – a rescue cat named Betty.
A Café with Character and a Feline Friend
Folklore, a cosy homage to Taylor Swift run by self-confessed Swiftie and former HR professional Alex Light, is more than just a pitstop for commuters. It's a community hub where customers enjoy hand-rolled Montreal-style bagels and specialty coffee. Light, who once reached the last 16 of The Great British Bake Off in 2016, gave up his corporate career to launch the venture last year.
The café's character was further enriched in early 2025 when Light rescued a malnourished, feral cat he found living with her three kittens behind hoardings on Sutton Parade. After caring for her, he found homes for the kittens but Betty, who ‘woke up friendly’ after two months, decided to stay, becoming the station's beloved resident feline.
The 'Cat-astrophe' That Threatened Everything
In September 2025, the café's future was thrown into jeopardy. Birmingham City Council's Environmental Health department arrived following a complaint from a member of the public. The complainant cited a risk of contamination and even claimed that seeing the cat caused them ‘emotional distress’.
Officers conducted an inspection and, while no contamination was found, they raised concerns about Betty accessing food preparation areas. Alex was presented with a stark ultimatum: enact significant changes within 28 days or face closure – unless the cat was removed.
“One of the options was closure and the other was to take Betty out of the premises, which had become her home,” Light explained. The required alterations were deemed unreasonable due to the listed building's constraints and the café's limited budget and space.
An Ingenious Solution Saves the Day
Faced with this dilemma, Alex devised a clever compromise. Instead of removing Betty or shutting down, he moved the café's entire food production off-site to a micro-bakery named Evermore. This decisive action satisfied the environmental health officers, who have since revisited and approved the new setup.
In a fitting turn of events, the former kitchen space inside Folklore has now been transformed into Betty’s dedicated bedroom. The crisis has been averted, and the cat continues to charm customers, with some even bringing her Christmas presents.
A Birmingham City Council spokeswoman clarified their position: “It is not the case the cat needs to leave. The owner was advised that the cat needs to be kept away from any surfaces or areas where food is prepared, handled or stored.”
Today, Folklore stands as a testament to community spirit and inventive problem-solving. It remains a cherished haven away from the rush of station life, where visitors can enjoy a ginger loaf slice, a chewy bagel, and perhaps a stroke of a very lucky cat.
