Leading dog-friendly holiday marketplace, Dog Friendly Cottages, has revealed the top ‘Dog Dining Destinations’ in the UK, with St Asaph in North Wales coming out on top, followed by Wells-next-the-sea and Pwllheli.
The research took into account the number of restaurants, pubs, and cafes in 65 locations in the UK, that serve dogs an equivalent meal to their human counterpart, not just a dog bowl of water and biscuits. The study follows a 390% increase in the number of Brits Googling ‘dog friendly restaurants’* over the past five years, indicating that taking a dog to a restaurant is a growing trend in the country.
London topped the list as the location with the most establishments serving meals for dogs, with 37, followed by Edinburgh with 9. However, they fell down in the national ranking when the population of each location was considered, i.e. London has just one ‘dog restaurant’ per 242,757 people, compared to St Asaph which has one per 1,677 people.
The top 10 Dog Dining Destinations in the UK are:
- St Asaph
- Wells-next-the-sea
- Pwllheli
- Bedale
- Keswick
- Countesthorpe
- Longton
- Brecon
- Ashbourne
- Peterhead
One dog-friendly establishment is The Pig & Whistle in Healing, which created a specific menu for dogs as part of its zero-waste to landfill aspirations. The restaurant said “trimmings and waste which is fit for human consumption is converted into meals for our local homeless charity, other trimmings from certain meats and in particular fish products are utilised in our dog menu. Dishes include a protein bowl, which is rice, fish and meat trimmings. We also serve doggy scrambled eggs for breakfast and as a sweet treat, come winter a peanut butter cupcake and in the summer a frozen doggy lollipop.”
A guide to the best ‘doggy dinners’ in the UK can be found here: https://www.dogfriendlycottages.co.uk/dogs-dinner
Taking pets out to restaurants can be stressful, but with dog-friendly establishments serving specific meals for pups this experience can be made more enjoyable for both dog and owner. To make the experience even better for owners, their dogs and other guests around them, these tips from dog behaviourist Nick Jones will help make dogs more comfortable in busy environments.
- Take your dog on a long walk before settling down to dinner. No one wants their dog to get a case of the ‘zoomies’ whilst trying to enjoy their meal so give them plenty of exercise beforehand to tire them out.
- Bring toys and treats along with you. Chews, bones and treats work really well at keeping your dog occupied and away from other guests.
- Make sure your dog has their own space and consider bringing a blanket or bed with you to really help them relax.
- Make sure your dog has plenty of water. Most dog friendly restaurants will happily provide a water bowl for your pup – just make sure to keep it topped up.
- Keep an eye on your dog and know their personality. Make sure your dog looks relaxed in the environment and keep an eye out for any signs of anxiety. Things to look out for are ears tight back to the head, whites of the eyes easily visible, cowering, stiff body, or trembling.
- Perhaps most importantly, keep your pup on a lead. Even if they’re well behaved you never know when an incident might put them in harm’s way so by keeping dogs on a lead you will protect them as well as remaining courteous to others in the restaurant.
Matthew Fox, CEO of the Snaptrip Group, said: “The increasing popularity of dining out with pets has created a surge in establishments offering meals specifically catered to our four-legged friends. From a three-course brunch menu for you and your dog at M Victoria Street, to dogtails at cocktail bar Smith & Whistle, this guide aims to help owners find the perfect destination to visit with their dog.
“Our hope is to provide owners looking for a weekend away, who don’t want to leave their dog at home, with a comprehensive list of the most dog-friendly places in the UK. Highlighting destinations where the option to eat out with their dog is available, along with some advice on making this experience as enjoyable for owners and their dogs as possible, should help dog-owners decide the best places to visit when planning their next dog-friendly getaway.”
