Places to eat/drink with dog in London/Kent

happymoneysaver79

Hi there you helpfull little lot:hello:

I am going to London for a week and taking my pooch, he is very much looking forward to it but we are not sure of where we can eat out and bring him along ( thinking of spending a couple of days in kent too). Also looking for dog friendly places to visit during the day. Maybe if there isn't already one a dog friendly places to visit thread might be useful to others? Apologies if one exists.

Thanks in advance x

Keldin

You can try http://www.dogfriendlybritain.co.uk and look in their Dog Days Out section (and others)
For eating I think you'll have better luck finding a pub that serves food and allows dogs rather than a restaurant. Most people claim having dogs in a restaurant is a health violation (not true) so I don't even bother asking restaurants anymore. http://www.beerintheevening.com is a good site to search. If you use their advanced search you can filter by dogs allowed and food served and then read the reviews/comments. I would still call to check though as owners/publicans change at short notice. Some may require you to sit outside or only in certian areas of the pub (especially if they have a restaurant type area).

K

happymoneysaver79

Keldin wrote: »

You can try http://www.dogfriendlybritain.co.uk and look in their Dog Days Out section (and others)
For eating I think you'll have better luck finding a pub that serves food and allows dogs rather than a restaurant. Most people claim having dogs in a restaurant is a health violation (not true) so I don't even bother asking restaurants anymore. http://www.beerintheevening.com is a good site to search. If you use their advanced search you can filter by dogs allowed and food served and then read the reviews/comments. I would still call to check though as owners/publicans change at short notice. Some may require you to sit outside or only in certian areas of the pub (especially if they have a restaurant type area).

K

Thanks very much Keldin I will have a butchers now! Its always a problem taking the dog anywhere round where I live, so most of the time he stays at home, poor thing. thanks x

Keldin

Fortunately where we are only one of the 6 pubs in walking distance doesn't allow dogs (not surprisingly its part of a chain).
We travel with our dog quite a lot so I know whats it's like trying to find places to eat. Even with the dog friendly pub and dog friendly places to stay guidebooks its hard to find places in this 'nation of dog lovers'.

K

catkins

When I got my dog I lived in France and it was so easy. He could be taken literally anywhere. I never came across an hotel that refused him (they used to be puzzled that I even asked!) and he was allowed in restaurants (all) and most shops. I did not take him into restaurants that often as he is a pretty big do but sat outside. Usually though the owner would ask why I was sitting outside.

Now back in England (as keldin says, supposedly a nation of animal lovers) and I stuggle to be able to take him anywhere. Most hotels won't take him (Travelodge do and that is where I nearly always stay now). A lot of restaurants will not even let you sit outside and quite a few pubs won't let you sit in the garden!!!!! That in particular really annoys me. He is going to sit quietly next to or under the table (depending how big it is) so why is he not allowed in a garden? It can be full of children running around and screaming (not saying there is anything wrong with that) but my dog is not allowed to lay there!! Needless to say I don't use these particular pubs even without my dog.

Sorry about the rant - hope you and your dog enjoy your holiday. I am sorry I can't recommend anywhere to take him.

foreign_correspondent

I wish I knew more palces where I could take my dog.. dogs used to be welcome in lots of pubs, but I cannot find one where I can take her now!
I did smuggle my old dog into the pub down the road for a pint. She obligingly hid under the table but eventually we were spotted and ordered out! (and, no dogs allowed in the beer garden either!!)
It ould be lovely to be able to take the dog for a good old stroll and call in for a pint occasionally, or take her with me when I go to meet friends, but unfortunately this is impossible where I live...
Howeer, I have just come back from holland, where dogs are a common sight in shops, department stores and cafes!

pania

hiya, try a day out to bewl water, a lovely reservoir just into sussex, bedgebury pinetum (absolutely gorgeous), camber sands, dover cliffs, joss bay, herne bay sea front was a particular favourite with my two boys, i'll rack my noggin for more thoughts and post back if i think of any! xx

Debt_Free_Chick

Most country pubs in Kent & Sussex have no problems with dogs in the bar and/or garden. But you need to find real local village pubs - anything aimed at tourists is generally less flexible. Avoid the "chains".

Bewl is ideal for dogs - very many locals exercise their dogs here off the lead. It can be very boggy/muddy in places after rain, so wear suitable footwear. I think there's a charge for parking in the main car park, so park in Rosemary Lane off the B2087 between Flimwell & Ticehurst. Keep driving down the lane until you get to the dam and the parking is obvious once you get there.

Having said that .... where in London are you planning to stay as Bewl is about 30/40 mins from J6 of M25 (Sevenoaks).

Perhaps let us know where you're staying so we can be more specific with days out. West London, for example, then Richmond Park would be an obvious choice.

happymoneysaver79

Thankyou all for your replies. Unfortunatly didn't get some until after we had gone (my fault for not putting in date!) but thanks anyway and I've noted them for future reference! Just came back fom London today - we were house sitting in Croydon so we spent the majority of time in Central London, I couldn't find any pubs to sit inside but we had a coffee in covent garden and went to Brighton for the day so we sat on the sea front in an open fronted cafe. The dog was something of a mini celebrity in London - particularly soho maybe because he was the only dog we saw there. Everyone made a fuss and he loved it - the big show off! He was upset that he wasn't allowed in to the museum of london to see the terracotta army - boo hoo!

I must say though on a serious note, why are dogs banned from shopping centres and beer gardens? Its a nightmare going anywhere with him because if its raining you can't go anywhere to get out the rain! We should petition the government to get things changed! Or maybe move to France!!!;)

Bromley86

happymoneysaver79 wrote: »

I must say though on a serious note, why are dogs banned from shopping centres and beer gardens?

Lowest common denominator. You may control and clean up after your dog, but not everyone would. Just look at the way some people are with their kids . . .

shoppaholic_returns

I have bought a copy of the good pub guide and this shows whether or not dogs are allowed in the pub in all the write ups, which is always useful. If we are going away in the uk we tend to rent a house/cottage etc from a company called rural retreats, who have a lot of houses that allow dogs to stay, which is great.

hOPE this helps, there is also a specific book on dog freindly pubs and hotels, I forget the name but it is from whsmith