Poole pub named among Britain's top five dog-friendly pubs
A new study of 100 dog-friendly pubs with beer gardens across the UK has named a Poole venue among the nation's best, ranking fourth overall.
Research by Dog Friendly Retreats assessed pubs using a consistent set of criteria, including Google and Tripadvisor reviews, dog-friendly amenities such as treats and dedicated dog menus, and how close each venue is to a park or walking route.
The Cliff in Canford Cliffs secured fourth place overall in the national rankings.
The overall UK winner was The Bull in Wanstead, London, which topped the rankings thanks to its strong customer reviews alongside a dedicated dog menu, water bowls, treats and dog-specific bar snacks, making it the only pub in the top 10 confirmed to offer all four. Second place went to The Fauconberg in North Yorkshire, which ranked highly thanks to its location less than a minute's walk from open countryside, while The Cutty Sark in Greenwich completed the top three. Sheffield was the standout city overall, placing three pubs in the top 10, more than any other location.
The findings suggest there is no single formula for creating a great dog-friendly pub. While some venues stood out for thoughtful amenities, others scored highly because of their consistently strong customer reviews or immediate access to nearby green space.
Matthew Fox, CEO of Dog Friendly Retreats, said: "There's no single thing that makes a pub good for dogs. Some do it through the little touches, treats, a proper menu, fresh water bowls. Others earn it through location, being right next to a park or a decent walk. What ties the best ones together is that they've thought about the dog as a guest, not just let one in. A lot of people plan their day around the walk as much as the pub, so having green space nearby genuinely adds to the whole visit."
Britain's top 10 dog-friendly pubs
| Rank | Pub | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bull | Wanstead, London |
| 2 | The Fauconberg | North Yorkshire |
| 3 | The Cutty Sark | Greenwich, London |
| 4 | The Cliff | Canford Cliffs, Poole |
| 5 | The Gardeners Rest | Neepsend, Sheffield |
| 6 | Poppy and Pint | West Bridgford, Nottingham |
| 7 | The Broadfield | Abbeydale, Sheffield |
| 8 | Kirkstall Bridge Inn | Kirkstall, Leeds |
| 9 | The Wharf | Castlefield, Manchester |
| 10 | The Lescar | Sharrow Vale, Sheffield |
The ranking was produced by compiling a list of 100 dog-friendly pubs with beer gardens from across the UK using recommendations from hospitality and pet-focused sources. Each pub was then scored on its Google and Tripadvisor review ratings, the dog-friendly amenities it offers, and the distance and walking time to the nearest park or green space. Beer gardens were also manually checked to confirm they were genuinely spacious and suitable for dogs before the final rankings were produced.
Dog Friendly Retreats specialises in dog-friendly holiday accommodation across the UK, helping owners find places to stay, eat and explore with their dogs.
