Top dog-friendly pub accommodation
We love staying at inns for their laid-back atmosphere, warm hospitality and community feel. Few things are better than spending long winter evenings sipping ale by a roaring fire before clambering upstairs to your comfy bed, or sunning yourself in a beer garden while getting insider knowledge from the staff about the area’s best walks. When you’ve got a pooch in tow, you’ll want to make sure they’re as well looked after as you are. Read on for our roundup of dog-friendly pub accommodation, where four-legged friends will receive warm welcomes in both the bars and the bedrooms.
The Durham Ox
York
This award-winning dog-friendly pub in the heart of Crayke village is the ideal choice for those who love a mix of city and country. Six of the seven rooms allow dogs, and you can dine together in the Tap Room restaurant – expect British classics cooked from fresh, local ingredients, and plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices.
Adventurous pooches will love the abundance of walks nearby; we recommend the Crayke Estate walk towards the Howardian Hills, which passes through lush woodland, over the river Foss and gives great views of Crayke Castle. For a faster pace, make the 25-minute journey into York to explore charming cobbled streets, beautiful historic buildings and brilliant shops. Your lovely country-house style room will be waiting for you when you return.
The Village Pub
The Village PubCirencester
One of our favourite dog-friendly pubs in the Cotswolds, this elegant country inn is the perfect base for exploring the area’s many picturesque villages and walks with your furry best friend. Up to two well-behaved dogs can stay, and they’ll be spoilt with their own bed, bowl and tasty treats in the room on arrival. They’ll also be welcomed with open arms in the pub and terrace, so you can relax, eat and drink with your pooch by your side. Expect delicious meals made from the best local and seasonal produce, with Hook Norton ale and Poulton Hill Estate wines to wash it down.
Cirencester and Bibury are both close for shopping and exploring, or if you’re just after some fresh air there are four dog-friendly circular walking routes from the doorstep – just ask the owners for the details.
The Acorn Inn
Dorset
A welcoming inn located within rolling countryside but also near the seaside. Pooches are treated like royalty here, with water bowls in the pub and a stash of complimentary dog biscuits behind the bar. In the bedrooms, water bowls, towels, treats and a dog-friendly area guide are provided. When it comes to dog-friendly pubs in Dorset, this one makes the most of everything the county has to offer.
If you’re after country strolls you needn’t look much further than your front door – lovely Evershot is a walker’s paradise, and your hosts will be more than happy to share the best routes. Those who like their air that bit saltier will love being so close to the coast; the seaside towns of Weymouth and Seatown are both just 35 minutes away, with Studland Bay Nature Reserve a little further. Once you’ve finished adventuring, head back to your cosy quarters to tuck into hearty gastropub fare by roaring fires.
The Meikleour Arms
The Meikleour ArmsPerth & Kinross
A wonderful inn on a large estate, and a great base for those looking for dog-friendly pubs near Edinburgh. The pub is steeped in history, dating back to 1820, and is located within a conservation village that’s world-renowned for its impressive trees and trout and salmon fishing. The downstairs bedrooms are dog-friendly (with dog beds provided on request), and are also welcome in the pub area, private dining room and garden. Interiors in the rooms and cottages are traditional and beautiful, with soft colours and quirky antiques. The menu makes the most of the fertile land on the estate and neighbouring areas, with vegetables and herbs from the walled garden and seafood from the west coast. Outdoorsy types will thrive here – head to the Meikleour North Wood, Shingle Beach or the River Tay for picturesque dog walks through woodland, coast and riverbanks.
The Gurnard’s Head
Cornwall
If you’re looking for dog-friendly pubs in Cornwall, they don’t get much more scenic than The Gurnard’s Head. Set a field or two back from the coastal path, you can wander out the back door and find yourself on cliff tops overlooking the ocean in five minutes. The pub itself is warm, welcoming and stylish, with charming interiors and roaring fires at both ends of the bar. Rooms are cosy and calming, with views over the Atlantic or the moors, and an emphasis on comfort – your hosts’ motto is that ‘a night’s sleep will only be as good as the bed itself’.
Your dog can stay with you at no extra cost, and you’ll have endless opportunities for adventure – roll out of bed onto breathtaking coastal walks, head to Sennen Cove to feel the sand between your toes (or paws) or day trip to St Ives for art galleries and a buzzing atmosphere. Cornish ales and seasonal culinary delights will be waiting when you get back.
Written by
Claire Maguire
Claire combines her twin loves of writing and travel to create inspiring blog content. Rudi combines his twin loves of baths and chasing squirrels to excuse getting as muddy as possible whenever he can. He hates missing out, so finding dog-friendly places is an absolute must. Claire loves a place with a stunning interior and is thankful Rudi is well-behaved enough to leave it the way they find it, unless there are slippers to be eaten.
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