Meet the 2016 Dog-friendly Pub Award Winners

Past Dog-friendly Pub Award winners are the very best pooch-welcoming pubs in the country – as voted by you; dog owners, pub enthusiasts and the DogBuddy community. We took the top voted pub in each region of the UK and our panel of judges deliberated to chose an overall, national champion. Each pub has a different story, a unique take on what it means to be dog-friendly, from home-made treats to in-pub dog-grooming, discover what makes these pubs special.

National Winner

Hand in Hand – London

Crowned last year’s National Winner, this charming pub adjacent to dog and rambler’s paradise Wimbledon Common was also voted London’s top dog-friendly drinking hole. Hailed by regulars and staff as feeling like a village pub in the city, this drinking hole swung it for the judges with their winning combination of homemade chicken liver ‘brownies’, community focus and charitable ethos.

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Regional Winners

The King Stag – East of England

Complete with a fancy human food menu that boasts fresh and local produce, the King Stag in Bushey received the most votes for dog-friendliness in the East of England. Perhaps that’s because they’ve decided to go a long way above simply offering water bowls and biscuits for their doggy visitors. The pub also serves up Snuffle Dog Beer to help thirsty hounds wash down a plate of chicken, sausages or burger. They don’t just talk the talk – they can walk it too, with organised monthly rambles for their community of dog owning regulars.

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The Brown Cow – East Midlands

Rescued from the brink of shutdown by canny landlord Nicola, this pub in Mansfield was described by one regular during last year’s Dog-friendly Pub Awards as a veritable dog metropolis! Another commented, “I’m thinking of getting a dog just so I can visit!” We’re pretty sure they were mostly were joking, because The Brown Cow won so many human votes that they secured the region’s top spot.

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Brandling Villa – North East

Have you ever frequented a pub that hosts Chihuahua birthday parties? Locals at Brandling Villa have, and they love their local so much that this drinking hole was a clear winner in the North East. Conveniently situated just a short distance from Jesmond Dene for dog walkers, this pub is the permanent home to Franco the Beagle who simply loves welcoming other pooches to his plot. All told, the Brandling Villa most definitely earned its title of dog-friendliest pubs in the North East!

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The Fullerton Arms – Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s champion pub boasts nearby dog walking scenery to make the other twelve regions turn a deep shade of green. Giants Causeway coastal paths and Carrick-a-Rede are both nearby, and the pub serves up seasonal British pub classics, which visitors can relish with their dogs by their sides.

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The Caledonia – North West

The North West’s most popular pub is so dog-friendly that knowing visitors arrive with pockets stuffed full of dog treats to make as many four-pawed friends as possible. Nestled on the edge of historic central Liverpool, The Caledonia proves a city centre pub needn’t be unwelcoming to dogs, and balances its dog-friendly ethos with another attraction – their popular live music nights. Home to two miniature Dachshunds, The Caledonia provides everything a dog and their owner would need during a visit, and more besides.

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The Earl of Marchmont – Scotland

Voted top of the Scots, the Earl of Marchmont believes dog-friendliness has to go beyond lip service. Described by landlords Duncan and Kristie as a “wee village pub in a city”, they treat dogs just like they would human customers. Never assuming that two dogs are the same, and always asking dog owners permission to give the pooches treats, which is why so many Marchmont fans voted the pub into winning place in Scotland.

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The Fox & Hounds – South East

The Fox & Hounds have an abundance of reasons for the fans to vote them top pub in the South East. Dog-friendly credentials include a secure beer garden, dog shows in aid of charity and even a bucket of soapy water to smarten up a mucky hound after a romp around nearby Hosehill Lake Nature reserve isn’t too much to ask here. The Fox & Hounds team were so determined to win they went the extra mile, creating voting slips to encourage regulars to cast votes in their favour.

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The Victoria Inn – South West

Serving up delicious food for humans to critical acclaim seven days a week is no walk in the park, but Tim and Liz at The Victoria Inn not only make that look easy, they provide a bespoke menu for doggy visitors too. Dogs are treated like royalty here, with blankets and towels provided as required. That’s not all, serving up doggy beer Snuffle and proudly displaying their custom-made dog cushions, this drinking hole also raises money for a local dog charity. A recipe for regional success in 2016.

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The Poundffald Inn – Wales


How many pubs can you think of where you can get your hairdo done while you enjoy a delicious pint of ale at the same time? That’s true of The Poundffald – as long as you’ve got four paws, that is! Landlady Alyson loves to pamper her visiting pooches, who are considered family members, which means they can even get their chops into a complementary doggy Sunday lunch. No wonder this pub was voted to Wales’ top spot.

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The Royal Oak – West Midlands

Locals love The Royal Oak so much they voted it top dog-friendly drinking hole in the West Midlands. And it’s not hard to see why, The Royal Oak is a ‘proper pub’ complete with happy doggy visitors and well-kept real ale. Landlord Ally took his dog-friendly credentials to a whole new level with free treats provided, pig-ears snacks and a warm welcome from Rudolph, the resident German Shepherd. A pub to make humans and dogs happy in equal measure!

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The Old Glen House – Yorkshire

Yorkshire is one of the many parts of England to lend its name to a dog breed, and the region’s dog-friendly pub enthusiasts certainly know what they like when it comes to a drinking hole. Country charmer The Old Glen House caters for cosy winter nights and long summer afternoons alike with their wood-burning stove and extensive beer garden. Popular with walkers, ramblers and cyclists, the pub makes dogs welcome with complimentary dog biscuits; owners report being dragged here by their dogs, which would explain why this is the region’s top dog-friendly pub of 2016.

Read more about The Old Glen House