Beer gardens are the ‘ultimate happy place’ for many Brits on a sunny weekend afternoon. We’re also a nation of dog-lovers looking to bring our furry friends along with us wherever we can. Luckily for Londoners, the city’s boozers are right up there, when it comes to catching the perfect paw-friendly city-break and enjoying a sunny pint with their pooch. Dog Friendly Retreats has compiled a definitive list of the best city pubs where dogs are genuinely welcome.
Water bowls? Tick. Dog treats? Tick. Dog-specific bar snacks and DOG BEER? Tick. But these are just the basics! The nation’s pubs really don’t play when it comes to pushing the boat out in putting canine companions first. As well as brewing up their own dog beer, some of these pubs are serving up extra special dog-friendly Sunday Roasts and even doggy ice-cream!
The UK is clearly sprawling with dog-friendly pubs. But it turns out London’s 2 million dog owners won’t have to hunt far at all to find their own dog-friendly happy place right here in the city. In the heart of London, with its ‘stunning riverside terrace’, the Cutty Sark and its multi-level beer garden, greets tail-wagging guests with a ‘warm doggy welcome’.
This historic watering hole is just a a stone’s throw from walkies at London’s lush Greenwich park, which hosts its own dog-friendly and wide-open spaces, offering the perfect set-up for walkies, a post-walk pint and more walkies. For just the price of a pint (or two), this London pub, nestled by the Thames, nicely sets up pooches and their parents too, for a long summer’s afternoon of refuelling and wiling the hours away with a cold drink in tow.
With riverfront seating, the popular boozer is a ‘magical spot for people-watching and pup-relaxing’. Staff are ‘known for offering extra fuss for four-legged visitors’ . Dogs are spoilt for choice – water is of course always available, but so are treats. After a long day of sweating it out in a busy city, which city dog wouldn’t want to indulge in some doggy ice cream?
Dog owners and their best dog-pals will most likely not be turning their noses up at the pub which has been approved by a steadily growing following. They’ve got just over 4000 followers on Instagram and have been rated above 4 on both Google and TripAdvisor.
Being ranked 7th on a list of top 100 dog-friendly pubs is no mean feat but these results aren’t just opinion based. We looked at how the results have been calculated – scroll down for more!
The UK’s top 10 and how they made it to the list
Dog Friendly Retreats explain that the results are data-driven and compiled from in-depth analysis of 100 dog-friendly pubs recommended by expert dog websites including ManyPets and DoggiePubs. It’s also about whether the pubs get the seal of approval from canine customers themselves – as evidenced by happy dog photos!
While Londoners can enjoy their own dog-friendly retreat in the heart of the city, Brits can find dog-friendly watering holes across the country. Hayley Lawrence from Dog Friendly Retreats says, “we know that more people than ever are travelling with their dogs, and city pubs with outdoor space offer a perfect way to include pups in holiday-maker plans. These spots don’t just allow dogs, they celebrate them.”
Brandling Villa in Newcastle took top spot earning a whopping 63.5 on the ‘dog-friendliness score’ but the Cutty Sark in London earns its own respectable 49.8. The rankings consider Google and TripAdvisor ratings, Instagram following, availability of water bowls and dog treats, whether they serve dog-friendly specific snacks or beer and proximity to walkies.
How to get to the Cutty Sark pub in London
The Cutty Sark Pub is located on the banks of the River Thames in Greenwich, near the Cutty Srk ship, O2 Academy and Canary Wharf. Opening hours are 11am to 11pm. Nearest stations are Maze Hill Station (7 minute walk) and Cutty Sark DLR Station (10 minute walk).
4-6 Ballast Quay, London SE10 9PD
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