Pubs up and down the UK have been campaigning for your votes, we’re practically wagging with excitement to announce each region’s top voted pub. These pubs receive the title of Regional Winner 2017, which they’ll be able to proudly display with a plaque for all the world to see!
Dog-Friendly Pub Awards 207 – Regional Winners
Our regional winners are the creme-de-la-creme of UK dog-friendly pubs – from all corners of the United Kingdom. Did your favourite local pub make it to the top of your region? Here goes – drum roll, please!
The Lion Inn – East Midlands
Being dog-friendly was a no-brainer for pub landlord Greg whose pooches are with him all day, every day, while he attends to business and customers visiting The Lion Inn. Soon after adopting his dogs, Greg found that customers started bringing their own dogs along for a beverage, and the Lion’s dog-friendly fame grew from there, building up their stock of treats, and water bowls a plenty. Staff at the Lion Inn are bound to learn visiting dogs’ names before their humans!
Landlord Greg McLeod told us that winning his region’s award gave him a sense of elation and total pride in his team. For him, making the Lion dog-friendly means his customers don’t have to choose between a social life and being with their dogs. We couldn’t agree more, Greg!
The Three Tuns – East of England
Firm favourite throughout the Awards, The Three Tuns is a veritable country idyl. Offering all the doggy basics and more besides, this pub certainly knows how to go above and beyond to cater for their four-legged visitors. Hosting doggy birthday “pawties”, sponsored dog walks for charity, plus homemade treats – it’s not hard to see why locals love this pub, so much so they voted it top of their region.
Anita at The Three Tuns could hardly contain her excitement when we told her she was her region’s winner – we suspect that all the doggy customers will be getting extra cuddles as a big thank you.
The Hand in Hand – London
This pub will be familiar to some as the champion of DogBuddy’s inaugural Awards and London’s most popular dog-friendly pub for the second year in a row. The Hand has set the bar (pun intended) very high for dog-friendly pubs everywhere. With homemade chicken liver treats keeping pups’ tongues lolling for miles around, plus seriously impressive dog charity fundraising efforts undertaken by Christine and her team, The Hand in Hand is a true dog-friendly establishment through and through.
Christine, assistant manager at The Hand told us that she and the whole team were so determined to retain their regional title, and, despite the London leaderboard looking very close at times, they managed it. Christine puts that down to their local community being supportive, so really, it’s a big “hand” (sorry) to all of Wimbledon!
The Keel Row – North East
Striving to make their visiting pooches as comfortable as possible is all part and parcel of what The Keel Row are all about. Some of their doggy regulars have been coming since puppyhood, and it’s clear why they keep coming back – they’re always thinking of new ways to keep pups happy, even turning a disused beer barrel into a source of clean, fresh water for thirsty pooches. The locals even teamed up to pay for an abandoned dog’s vet bills – how’s that for dog-friendly!
Connor at The Keel Row was delighted, over the moon, even, to discover they’d won this award. The Keel is such a fixture of the local doggy community that some doggos have been visiting since they were puppers!
The Caledonia – North West
Another familiar pub from 2016’s Awards – The Caledonia have cemented their place on any serious list of the UK’s dog-friendliest pubs. Proving that being dog-friendly doesn’t require being a countryside pub, the “Cali” are always thinking of new ways to show their dog-friendly credentials. Recently making the shift to an all-vegan menu, even using their position in the community to host informal dog-adoption information sessions with a local dog charity, the North West’s favourite dog-friendly pub is here to stay!
Laura King, Liverpudlian pooch-loving landlady had this to say when we told her she’d won: “Chuffed to bits! All our staff work so hard to make dogs and dog owners welcome in the pub so it’s a pleasure to be able to tell them that their efforts have been recognised.”
The Fullerton Arms – Northern Ireland
Topping the Regional Leaderboard for a second year running, the staff at The Fullerton Arms work hard to make their doggy visitors as welcome as possible. From helping dogs and their owners feel at ease by providing a secure, enclosed garden space, to asking that dog owners respect other dog’s need for some private snoozing space if needed.
Sean at The Fullerton Arms said, “We are absolutely delighted to be regional winners for the second year in a row. Our pub is not just for those with two legs, we adore our four pawed friends!”
Failford Inn – Scotland
This Scottish pub on the banks of the River Ayr is the perfect pitstop for dogs and their owners taking a walk through scene Ayrshire. With a cosy interior, river-garden views, open fire, and towels provided for soggy doggies, it’s certainly a place to spend an hour, or more, with your pooch, a well-earned pint and enjoy some of Scotland’s finest doggy hospitality.
Scotland’s most dog-friendly landlord was so delighted when we informed her, she practically jumped out of her seat! Sara said that she is overwhelmed (in a good way) at winning the award is a huge validation of the values of her business, including welcoming hungry, thirsty walkers and their dogs into her pub who would have nowhere to get refreshed if Failford Inn weren’t welcoming to pooches.
The Fox and Hounds Theale – South East
The Fox and Hounds was named 2016’s Regional Winner in the pooch-loving South East, and this year stole our judges’ hearts. At the heart of their dog-friendly ethos is the belief that dogs are family members, not pets, which means that they should be welcome to wine and dine with their human families, too! This charming country-feel, 200-year-old pub even takes bookings with the name of the dog, rather than the human customers. The Fox and Hounds strives to be more than just a business, with regular community-led dog shows to raise money for dog charities.
Jayne at The Fox and Hounds said she was delighted to have won.Jayne said she’s particularly looking forward to all the new pooches who might visit the pub as a result of the awards.
The Fox and Hounds – South West
The Fox and Hounds, in Devizes is a picture postcard charmer complete with thatched roof. It’s more than a pretty exterior though. Staff are trained to consider doggy visitors with the utmost care, ensuring to ask an owner’s permission before giving treats and showing them to the best seats in the house for some quiet dog-nap time. Knowing their pooch-patrons range from Great Danes to Chihuahuas, they’ve also taken extra precaution to ensure the pub garden is a safe and secure environment for dogs of all shapes and sizes – so owners can enjoy their pint with peace of mind!
Deborah at the Fox and Hounds had this to say, “Absolute amazed delight. Being dog friendly is a massive part of what we do, it’s our biggest USP, not to mention a way of life.” Sounds like we’re pubs from the same litter, Deborah.
The Bryntirion Inn – Wales
Recognising that not all dogs are the same and have different needs is at the heart of The Bryntirion’s approach to dog-friendliness. This extends to providing gluten-free treats, since some dogs are prone to allergies, and understanding that pooches and their owners arrive with a thirst after walking in the Welsh hills – so it’s important to make sure they both get to whet their whistles! Martin took over the pub 14 years ago the first thing he did was to get rid of the ‘no dogs allowed signs’. The rest is history!
The award clearly means the world to the Bryn’s landlord Martin, who’s always claimed his pub is the most dog-friendly in the area – now it’s official, certificate, plaque and all!
The Bailey Head – West Midlands
Nestled near the Welsh borders in a charming town square is the winner of the West Midland’s popular vote, The Bailey Head. There are even reports of nervous rescue dogs gradually learning to trust again – such as Penny who now loves to hang out and eat snacks at the bar – sounds like The Bailey Head is a pawesome place for pooches to hang out.
Duncan of the Bailey Head looks forward to welcoming new pups and their owners – so if you’re in the neighbourhood, why not pay a visit?
The Old Glen House – Yorkshire
Another familiar name – The Old Glen house retained their regional title this year, cementing their place as one of the UK’s best dog-friendly pubs. What you might call a ‘proper country pub’ this drinking hole is a hot destination for walkers, cyclists, and thirsty dogs alike. It’s all about inclusivity here at the Old Glen, so you can be sure to be well-fed, gulp a quaffable ale whilst your pooch is given treats, plenty of water and can join you while you relax and enjoy yourself!
Ed from The Old Glen House was so pleased to win Yorkshire’s popular vote for the second time in a row, saying that it confirms that his customers really do appreciate all the hard work his family-run pub puts into make dogs at home.
So there we have it – another brilliant, vote-filled year of the Dog-Friendly Pub Awards. Are you drooling to discover which of our 12 Regional Winners has been crowned this year’s National Winner? Don’t wait any longer – we’ve announced the news on our blog.