11 dog-friendly restaurants in the UK for your pooch to try
Holidaying in the UK is a joy for dog owners but what happens in the evening when both you and Fido are hungry? Finding somewhere that welcomes dogs can be challenging. So avoid getting caught out with our list of 11 dog-friendly restaurants in the UK.
1. Rothay Manor
Location: Ambleside, Lake District
Star dish: Afternoon tea
The Lake District has its fair share of dog-friendly places to eat, from cosy pubs to lakeside cafes. We’ve opted for the fabulous Rothay Manor, in Ambleside, where you can treat yourself to afternoon tea in their drawing room or enjoy fine dining in their pet-friendly Brathay Room, courtesy of Head Chef (and Great British Menu winner) Daniel McGeorge.
Image credit: Rothay Manor
Website: rothaymanor.co.uk/dogs/
2. The Gunton Arms
Location: Cromer, Norfolk
Star dish: Roasted venison
A trip to Norfolk is sure to cover some of the county’s magnificent (and dog-friendly) country estates, including Sandringham. Gunton’s one thousand-acre deer park is welcoming to your four-legged friends, and the outstanding food at The Gunton Arms makes it worth the visit for humans too. The menu of locally-sourced ingredients includes venison from the deerpark, which is cooked over an open fire in one of the pub’s traditional dining rooms.
Image credit: The Gunton Arms
Website: theguntonarms.co.uk/restaurant/
3. Rockfish
Location: Exmouth, Devon
Star dish: Seasonal fresh fish
Grilled, shucked, roasted or battered; fish is the order of the day at Rockfish’s gorgeous seafront Exmouth restaurant. Lunch and dinner menus showcase only the freshest fish, and dogs are welcome both on the terrace and in the log-fire heated seating area. Rockfish have other locations throughout Devon, each one with dog-friendly walking routes and beaches on the doorstep.
Image credit: Rockfish
4. William de Percy Inn & Creperie
Location: Otterburn, Northumberland
Star dish: Savoury crepes and stotties
Situated in Otterburn, on the edge of Northumberland National Park, William de Percy Inn & Creperie is a boutique hotel and pub that provides the perfect pit stop for hungry dogs. Their eclectic menu promises home-cooked food from land and sea, including dishes like pulled ham hock, served in an iconic local stottie or crepe. Pooches won’t be left out, with refreshing water bowls on tap.
Image credit: William de Percy Inn & Creperie
Website: williamdepercy.com/food-drink/
5. Purefoy Arms
Location: Preston Candover, Hampshire
Star dish: Their seven-course tasting menu includes skate and venison loin
Headed up by an award-winning chef, and with a menu that spotlights local producers in the Hampshire area, the Purefoy Arms elevates the meaning of ‘dog-friendly pub’. Your pooch will be spoilt with dog treats and ice cream on offer on the dog menu in the large, rural garden or in the bar area. Added to that, there are miles and miles of pure English rolling countryside to discover in the Preston Candovers.
Image credit: The Purefoy Arms
Website: thepurefoyarms.co.uk/the-pub/
6. Caffe Rojano
Location: Padstow, Cornwall
Star dish: Caffe Rojano tear and share
From the team behind the Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No. 6, comes the slightly more relaxed, but yet still upmarket, Caffe Rojano. This Cornwall eatery has become a Padstow institution, serving up Mediterranean-inspired dishes with a Cornish flair. Think pasta dishes with freshly-caught cod or Cornish pork chop with chimichurri. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the large conservatory.
Image credit: Caffe Rojano
7. Smith and Whistle
Location: London
Star dish: Anything on the cocktail menu
London is the ultimate city break location, and its parks and heathlands are surprisingly dog-friendly. When you’re starting to feel hungry, the restaurant and cocktail bar Smith and Whistle, in London’s swanky Mayfair, offers casual fare for humans. Burgers, poke bowls and lobster rolls are all on the unpretentious menu. But dogs will be in their element, with handmade ‘dogtails’ such as the ‘poochie colada’ created especially to make your dog feel like royalty.
Image credit: Smith and Whistle
Website: smithandwhistle.com/dog-friendly-bar
8. King’s Head Inn
Location: Llangennith, Swansea
Star dish: Home-made curries
The 17th-century King’s Head Inn is perfectly located for exploring the stunning Gower Peninsular, with the attractions of Swansea as well as expansive, dog-friendly beaches close by. Water bowls and dog-friendly menu items will keep hungry canines happy, while the human menu includes both fine-dining options with Welsh ingredients, and an array of hearty home-made curries.
Image credit: The King’s Head Inn
9. The Brasserie and Bar at the Devonshire Arms
Location: Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales
Star dish: Sunday Lunch
Located in a spectacular country house-turned-hotel, the award-winning Brasserie and Bar at the Devonshire Arms is one of Yorkshire’s top dog-friendly restaurants. Eat on the terrace, surrounded by views of the stunning Yorkshire Dales, and feast on ingredients sourced from the kitchen garden.
Image credit: The Brasserie & Bar at the Devonshire Arms
Website: devonshirehotels.co.uk/devonshire-arms-hotel-spa/wine-dine/
10. The Anchor Inn
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Star dish: Anchor Catalan fish stew
Boasting one of the South Coast’s best beer gardens, it's easy to see why the dog-friendly Anchor Inn is so popular. With a prime position right on the beach near Bridport, Dorset, you can pop in for lunch or drinks after long walks with your pooch along the sands. The seasonal menu showcases local ingredients and seafood, and the list of aperitifs are ideal for watching the sun go down.
Image credit: The Anchor Inn
11. The Boathouse
Location: Anglesey, Gwynedd
Star dish: Boathouse fish pie
The family behind Anglesey’s The Boathouse have been serving tasty seafood lunches for 50 years, and their fish pie is one of the best anywhere in the UK. With sea views from their dog-friendly terrace, here you’ll find all the ingredients you need for a stunning seaside staycation. With wide open, dog friendly beaches, nature reserves and adventures at sea available, both you and your four-legged friend will be sure to work up an appetite.
Image credit: The Boathouse
Website: theboathouseanglesey.com/
