Last updated 25 September 2026, after the episode aired.
Lucy & Lola is the embroidered pet portrait brand that appeared on Dragons' Den on Thursday 24 September 2026, BBC One. Founder Lucy Bowes asked for £100,000 for 10%, received offers from all five Dragons, and accepted a joint offer from Jenna Meek and Steven Bartlett in the Den. The episode is on BBC iPlayer. Lucy & Lola stitches realistic pet portraits designed from customer photos, and has shipped over 75,000 orders worldwide.
If you have just watched the episode, or seen a clip or a headline about the pet portrait company in the Den, you are in the right place. This is the official Lucy & Lola page, written by us. It covers what happened, where to watch it, what we make, and how long an order takes right now.
Key takeaways
- Lucy & Lola was on Dragons' Den on Thursday 24 September 2026, BBC One.
- The episode is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
- Lucy asked for £100,000 for 10%, and all five Dragons made an offer.
- She accepted a joint offer from Jenna Meek and Steven Bartlett in the Den.
- Every portrait is designed from your photo and stitched, not printed, in Cambridge.
- Over 75,000 orders shipped, rated 4.9 from more than 10,000 five star reviews.
- Current dispatch window is 2 to 3 weeks, always shown at checkout.
Who are Lucy & Lola?
Lucy & Lola is a British pet portrait brand based in Cambridge, England. We take the photo you already have of your dog, cat, horse or rabbit, design a portrait from it, and stitch that portrait onto sweatshirts, hoodies, blankets, cushions, bags and more. Nothing is printed. Every piece is embroidered to order in our own studio, and nothing goes near a machine until you have approved the design.
| Detail | Lucy & Lola |
|---|---|
| What we make | Realistic embroidered pet portraits, designed from your photo and stitched onto clothing and homeware |
| Founded | 2021, by Lucy Bowes and Andy Cheung |
| Based | Cambridge, England. Made to order in our own studio and shipped worldwide |
| Named after | Lola, Lucy's rescue dachshund |
| Orders shipped | Over 75,000 |
| Customer rating | 4.9 average from over 10,000 five star reviews |
| Pets we stitch | Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, hamsters, birds and reptiles, including multi pet designs |
| Dragons' Den episode | Broadcast Thursday 24 September 2026, BBC One. Now on BBC iPlayer |
| The ask | £100,000 for 10% |
| In the Den | Offers from all five Dragons. Accepted a joint offer from Jenna Meek and Steven Bartlett |
| Website | www.lucyandlolashop.com |
Official images. Credit: BBC Studios / Dragons' Den.
What happened to Lucy & Lola on Dragons' Den?
Lucy asked for £100,000 for 10% of the business. All five Dragons offered the same deal, £100,000 for 20%. Lucy negotiated Jenna Meek and Steven Bartlett down so their stake would fall to 15% once the £100,000 was repaid, and accepted their joint offer in the Den because their marketing expertise was what she wanted most.
Every Dragon was given one of our jumpers, and they all praised the quality and the craftsmanship on camera. The room changed when they heard the numbers. "Pet embroidery" sounds like a hobby, and it was clear they expected one, right up until the figures came out. Lucy has written the full story, in her own words, in Did Lucy & Lola get a deal on Dragons' Den?
Where can I watch the Lucy & Lola episode?
The episode was broadcast on BBC One at 8pm on Thursday 24 September 2026 and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Lucy & Lola filmed the pitch last year, which is why there was a long gap between filming and broadcast. This is the only Dragons' Den episode Lucy & Lola appears in.
Who is Lucy Bowes?
Lucy Bowes is the founder of Lucy & Lola. She started the business in 2021 during lockdown after rescuing Lola, a dachshund, teaching herself to use a secondhand embroidery machine at home. She was working in finance at the time, and is a CIMA qualified accountant. In 2026 she was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list. She runs the business from Copley Hill Business Park in Cambridge with her co founder and husband Andy Cheung.
The short version is that nobody in this story was an embroiderer. Lucy learned on one machine, in a house, with a dachshund asleep nearby, and the business grew from there because the portraits looked like the actual pets rather than a generic outline. Why she chose to pitch at all is in Why we went on Dragons' Den.
How did Lucy & Lola get from one machine to the Den?
- 2021Lucy rescues Lola and buys a secondhand embroidery machine during lockdown. The first portraits are made at home.
- Early daysThe business starts with printed designs and moves to embroidery once it is clear that stitching gives the realism people actually want.
- February 2022The brand launches properly on its own Shopify store.
- GrowingA feature in the international press over Christmas brings hundreds of orders overnight. The team exhibits at Crufts and more than fifteen Dog Fest events.
- Last yearLucy films her pitch for Dragons' Den.
- 2026Lucy is named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list. The studio moves to Copley Hill Business Park in Cambridge and the team grows to a full production floor of embroidery machines and local staff.
- 24 September 2026The episode airs on BBC One. All five Dragons make an offer.
What does Lucy & Lola actually make?
Everything starts with a photo you already have. You upload it, we design a portrait from that photo, we send it to you to look at, and you can ask for as many changes as you like. Nothing is stitched until you are happy. Then it is embroidered onto the item you chose, in our Cambridge studio, and posted to you.
What you can have your pet stitched onto
- Sweatshirts and hoodies, the two things most people order first
- T shirts and full zip fleece jackets
- Hooded blankets, for the sofa rather than the wardrobe
- Velvet and cotton linen cushions, often for the spot the dog used to claim
- Recycled backpacks and cross body bags
- Multi pet designs, so the whole household goes on one piece
- A name on the sleeve, and a small halo for a pet who has died
We stitch dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, hamsters, birds and reptiles. If your pet is none of those, send us the photo and ask. The honest answer is that we have stitched some unusual animals and we would rather tell you plainly if yours will not work than take the order and disappoint you.
Can I order the jumper from Dragons' Den?
The embroidered pet portrait sweatshirt the Dragons were given is on sale at lucyandlolashop.com now, along with the hoodie and the rest of the range. You upload your own photo at checkout or send it afterwards, so you do not need the perfect picture to hand before you order. The current dispatch window is shown at checkout before you pay.
How long it takes. Every portrait is designed and stitched to order, so this is not next day delivery and we would rather say so upfront. The current dispatch window is 2 to 3 weeks depending on capacity, and the live figure is always shown at checkout before you pay. If you are ordering for Christmas or for a specific date, check that window first, and if it is tight, tell us in the order notes and we will be straight with you about whether we can make it.
Upload a photo of your pet, approve the design, and we will stitch it in Cambridge. Unlimited revisions before anything is made.
How does ordering work, step by step?
- 1. Choose your itemPick the sweatshirt, hoodie, blanket, cushion or bag you want, plus size and colour.
- 2. Send your photoUpload it with the order, or send it to us afterwards if you have not picked one yet. A clear, well lit photo of your pet's face works best.
- 3. We design the portraitEvery photo is reviewed by a person, and the portrait is designed from that photo.
- 4. You approve itWe send the design to you. You can request unlimited revisions. Nothing is stitched until you say yes.
- 5. We stitch itMade to order on our machines in Cambridge.
- 6. It shipsPosted to you, worldwide. You get tracking.
When is Lucy & Lola not the right choice?
We would rather you knew this before you ordered than after.
- You need it in a few days. We cannot do that. Everything is made to order and the dispatch window at checkout is real. If you need something tomorrow, buy a gift card instead and let them choose later.
- You only have a dark, blurry or very distant photo. The portrait can only be as good as the photo. We will tell you if yours will not work, but if it is the only picture that exists, manage your expectations.
- You want a printed design. We do not print. Everything is embroidered, which is more expensive and takes longer, and that is a deliberate choice rather than an accident.
- You want a full body portrait in fine detail. Embroidery is brilliant at faces and less good at tiny detail at small scale. Head and shoulders is what we do best.
- You are on a tight budget. We are not the cheapest pet gift you can buy, and we will not pretend otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pet portrait company on Dragons' Den?
Lucy & Lola, a Cambridge based brand that makes embroidered pet portraits designed from your own photo. Founder Lucy Bowes pitched the business on the episode broadcast on Thursday 24 September 2026, BBC One. The company was founded in 2021 and has shipped over 75,000 orders. The website is lucyandlolashop.com.
Did Lucy & Lola get a deal on Dragons' Den?
Yes, in the Den. Lucy asked for £100,000 for 10%, and all five Dragons offered £100,000 for 20%. She negotiated Jenna Meek and Steven Bartlett down to 15% once the investment was repaid, and accepted their joint offer. The full story is in our post, Did Lucy & Lola get a deal on Dragons' Den?
Which Dragons invested in Lucy & Lola?
In the episode, Lucy accepted a joint offer from Jenna Meek and Steven Bartlett. She chose them for their marketing expertise, which was what she most wanted from a Dragon. All five Dragons had made her an offer.
Where can I watch Lucy & Lola on Dragons' Den?
On BBC iPlayer. The episode was broadcast on BBC One at 8pm on Thursday 24 September 2026. The pitch was filmed last year, and the long gap between filming and broadcast is normal for Dragons' Den.
Who is Lucy Bowes?
Lucy Bowes is the founder of Lucy & Lola. She started the business in Cambridge in 2021 with a secondhand embroidery machine after rescuing her dachshund, Lola, while working in finance as a CIMA qualified accountant. She was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2026 and runs the company with co founder Andy Cheung.
What is the Lucy & Lola website?
lucyandlolashop.com. That is the only official shop. We do not sell through third party marketplaces, so if you see our portraits listed elsewhere at a much lower price, it is not us.
How much do Lucy & Lola pet portraits cost?
Prices depend on the item. The embroidered pet portrait sweatshirt is £70 and the hoodie is £80. Adding another pet to the same design is £25, and a name on the sleeve is £15. Everything is made to order with unlimited revisions included before anything is stitched. Current prices are always the ones shown on the product page.
How long does a Lucy & Lola order take?
Every portrait is designed and stitched to order, so the dispatch window is shown at checkout and updated as capacity changes. It is currently 2 to 3 weeks. If the window changes, we change the number at checkout rather than let you find out afterwards.
Are Lucy & Lola portraits printed or embroidered?
Embroidered. Every portrait is stitched, not printed. We removed printed products from the site entirely because embroidery is the thing we are good at and the thing customers come back for. It costs more and takes longer, and it also lasts, which is the trade we decided to make.
Is Lucy & Lola a real UK company?
Yes. Lucy & Lola Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 13554307, with its registered office at Unit 1, Copley Hill Business Park, Cambridge CB22 3GN. Everything is made in that building. You are welcome to email us and speak to an actual person before ordering.
Can you stitch more than one pet?
Yes. Multi pet designs are one of our most popular options, and plenty of orders have three or four animals on one piece. Each extra pet is added to the same design rather than made as a separate portrait, so it still reads as one picture of the household.
Can you stitch a pet who has died?
Yes, and a large part of what we do is memorial work. A small halo can be added above the portrait on any product. It is a quiet marker rather than an obvious one, so the piece still reads as a portrait of the pet rather than a memorial object. Our team handles these orders personally, and you can browse our pet memorial gifts if it is a gift for someone else.
Do you ship outside the UK?
Yes, worldwide. Orders are made in Cambridge and shipped internationally, and we have customers across the US, Australia, Canada, Ireland and Europe. Shipping costs are shown at checkout before you pay.