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Dogs In Pubs
What makes our traditional British pubs so great? Well, a pub dog for a start.
What makes a great pub? Plenty pubs try for the winning formula. Many get it badly wrong. For me, hand pulled ale is an absolute must. No hand pulled and I’m walking by. A lack of kiddies should also be a given. Pram in the tap room? I’ll be off elsewhere then. But one of the best, and most welcoming, sights in a public house is the presence of a pub pooch.
Lazing by an open fire. At the feet of his master. Bowl of water. Maybe a sneaky beer taster. Fresh from a walk. Or on ‘the walk’ itself. Snaffling round for rogue nuts and scratchings. Sniffing out recent canine visitors. Fussed over by other drinkers. Can I say hello to your dog? What his name? It is a he isn’t it? They’re an essential part of what makes British pubs so great.
I can recall the dogs I’ve met in pubs often better than the pubs themselves, the people or what I drank. Molly the Springer in the Tap and Spile in Harrogate. The Shiba Inus in The Crown in Stockport – one of my favourite away day pubs, or at least it was til the selfish sods got relegated. Poppy the Jack Russell in the Fighting Cock. Blue the big dog and Fritz in The Shipley Pride. The dog lazing on a settee in The Ashton Arms in Oldham. The massive German Shepherd behind the bar in Nantwich. The two dogs that popped in The George and Dragon, Aysgarth, after walking with their owners through the glorious Yorkshire Dales. They licked their crisp bags clean. The giant Newfoundland in the smallest pub in Otley.
There’s the resident dog. Sometimes grouchy. Heard only behind the scenes. Let out from a rear door. End of the night. A pent up wagging explosion whilst remaining regulars finish their pints. There’s the resident dog that lets you know when you’re sat in their favourite spot, but will happily share if you share your crisps.
Then there’s the dog regulars. Same time every day. Or week. Everyone knows their names. Greeted like any other friend. I know of an occasion when a fella on acting up, causing a nuisance and managing to rile a popular pooch visitor, was being shown the door when he piped up: “What about that fucking dog?” To which the landlady replied: “The dog’s a regular and you’re barred.”
There’s plenty of guides around now about dog friendly pubs, and a good website if you’re going somewhere new with your furry pal and need pointing in the right direction. Indeed, such is the popularity that pubs are even offering special dog beer and snack menus. Newcastle’s Brandling Villa, managed to gain them a fair amount of national publicity recently. Others such as The King’s Head in Gunnerside, North Yorkshire, offers the same – dog beer, pigs ears and assorted treats. A quick search on the internet brings up others, like The King’s Head in Woodbridge, Suffolk and The Travellers Rest in Huddersfield , a town it has to be said, that takes its love of dogs a tad too far. A personal favourite of mine is the Causeway Foot Inn, in Ogden, between Halifax and Bradford. It’s a great place for a walk, has excellent beer and a log fire. Not only is it dog friendly though, but they breed working Springer Spaniels and Weimaraners.
The perfect pub doesn’t offer fancy meals, doesn’t have settees, big screens, assorted bric-a-brac bolted to the walls, row upon row of mass produced nitrokeg fonts. It simply needs great ale and a friendly dog. Above are a few of the photos I’ve taken on my pub travels, all from pubs that allow dogs. Because if there’s a sign saying ‘No dog allowed’ then I’ll just head to another, better, pub for a drink.
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COMMENTS
Oh yeah, there's nothing quite like watching a steaming turd being dropped while you're supping your pint. Dogs in pubs? No thanks!
*standing ovation*
What Neil said.
I do like a pub with a dog or two in. It's amazing how tolerant the dogs are usually what with three quarters of the customers trying to feed them or pet them. The only downside now, since the smoking ban and this applies especially to pubs near canals, is the all pervading odour of "wet dog". I suppose the smoking ban was inevitable but they could have left the dirty ashtrays.
Great article KW. In our local we get the ramblers and their dogs in the daytime, then at night we get the local doggy characters. These include Betty the black Labrador with her owner Curly Dave, and Frank the whippet with his owner ,Frank. Great range of hand pulled ales too, and a massive wood burner.
Cheers folks. I like the idea of the two Franks! Be good to hear more pub dog tales...
May I also add the Constitution in Camden to the list of dog-friendly pubs. Sadly, King, the gigantic (if a little flatulent) Airedale passed away last year but now there is a new Airedale pup on the scene, the curiously named Kingo. Worth dropping in for good food, a good pint, lovely staff and there's even a plaque so you can pay your respects to King.
Loved reading this. And spot on with the kids in pubs and crap on walls sentiments - neither of them are conducive to a good pub environment. Great feature.
The White Horse in Brixton has a pub dog called George, he even has his own leather chair there.
Re. ArrysFatWallet comment. Utter bollocks, mate. Just never happens. Excellent piece. No shortage of pubs here in Brighton but all too few dog-friendly ones.
Nowt to do with dogs but we once got caught in a snowstorm in Aysgarth and the landlord of the George and Dragon (mentioned in the piece) not only opened up early and served us beer and food at 9AM but it turned out he was in a 60's pop band who had a couple of minor hits. After he lit the fire he went and got is guitar and played us flamenco tunes while we got pissed. Happy days.
Great pub that Dave. See all the drawings of the old regulars on the wall? Though it did look a bit like police photofits of Bullseye contestants. And no dogs! >> And Arry, as Jon says, you're more likely to see a human do that than a dog...
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/hugo_s_out_on_the_leash_1_4180293
Maybe there is a direct correlation between good pubs and pubs that like dogs. Uptight, carpeted sterile nuevo pubs would never let dogs in. Proper pubs see them as part of the character. There is brilliant pub along the Thames at Cookham called the Bounty that loves dogs. They even have a Dog Show their every year which is a right laugh. Sign on the door says 'Dogs, muddy boots welcome.' and the guvnor seems to always be playing hits of the 60s .
I remember back in the 80s in London. Myself and a gentleman from Hull were with two yank birds and they were amazed that dogs were allowed in the pub. I'd never thought about it until then, but since I've often groped for it as further proof that England really is a quite exotic, Olde Worlde place.I fondly recall all the dogs in the pubs in Manchester where I grew up. An old bloke nicknamed "Major" who came in the Ostrich with his trusty bulldog (they were identical twins), or the bedraggled Jack Russell owned by Enz the busker that was rumoured to enjoy a spliff or three just like his master, not to mention those guard dogs of the 70s, Alsations patrolling the flat roofs of prefab dens of iniquity amid the tower blocks of Salford. Great article. I'm wondering what this "dog beer" is now, though...
Dog beer exists, it's a yeatsy meaty drink. Give my german shepherd ome every friday, laps it all up in one
I think Ben's right. Dogs do seem to be a sign of a more traditional pub. THis is the link Shelly put up by the way. There's a great video with it. http://bit.ly/yIvh7S
The landlady of my local loves dogs. She brings out the scraps of meat from the kitchen on a Sunday dinner time and goes around feeding them, other days she has dog biscuits. It's known for being a 'dog friendly' pub. They are mainly brought in by regulars and in the daytime and are no bother at all and seem to revel in the attention they get.
A drink with your dog brings having a drink to another level
Can but agree with Georgia. The Constitution is a wonderful place - and Davo the fox terrier is the most adorable pooch in the whole of London Town.
I wish I liked dogs but I don't. They get on my tits. Sorry.
I've got a whippet (classic Northern pub dog) but can't find a pub in Edinburgh that will allow him in. Maybe there's some kind of McLaw against it?
Russ - I'm a cat man, but I like dogs in pubs. Just in pubs. They fit. Same as I like dogs playing pool or poker in paintings.
Richard, who is Davo the foxy? What happened to Kingo?? I am way overdue for a session at the Con...
Fantastic article Keith and right on the money. Can never understand people who don't like friendly dogs. A quality pint of ale in a country pub on a winter's day, a roaring fire and a friendly pub dog wandering around enjoying the attention of pub-goers... if that doesn't help you discover contentment, nothing will.
See, this is what I mean Ben, people like Rob make me feel like some kind of soulless shell of an excuse for a man because I'd rather steer clear of dogs. He may well be right. But my Nana had a dog that was mental, maybe thats why I'm averse. It used to hold everyone hostage in the betting shop on Boothferry Estate. She had to give it away to a farm in the end. Crackers it was.
No, Russ, I agree. I can't stand dogs in parks bounding up to my littl'un as their owner says 'she wont hurt her', and, indeed, once wrote a feature urging all dogs to be banned . . . but age mellows, and a dog in a pub says come hither, hail fellow, well met, drink and smoke (outside) and talk among men.' Or something like that.
Every bar here in the states wants to try and be a hooters, so no smoking and no dogs unfortunately. bah, the killjoys
Should point out my standing ovation was for Keith's article, not Arrys'fatwallet's misguided views on pubdogmanship.
My regular serves no food at all (I would eat it if it did to be fair), has a selection of fine ales and there are always dogs in it. However this is only with the at times reluctant agreement of the pub cats ...
We used to have the Shoulder of Mutton, in Southowram, nr Halifax & not only did we allow dogs, we kept a drawer full of treats for owners to take & feed them with. We had a few regular dogs who were always well behaved.
Great piece, Keith. Our dog loves cider and Quavers. The bitch never gets a round in though.
Pub cats, I like the sound of that. Can't they breed them to be the size of rottweilers though? Level the playing field an that? Owen, I bet cats would lap that dog beer up an all, no pun intended.
I am a dog who goes to pubs - see my travels at www.phileasdogg.com - so applaud this article.
My favorite pub - the Crown & Sceptre in St. Marychuch,Torquay. Great Real Ale and dog friendly.A resident Rottweiler and scrounging Jack Russell rule the roost.
I was in notorious indie-schmindie twatfactory The Hawley Arms in Camden a while ago, and amid the blokes who thought they looked like blokes in bands, was an old geezer sat at the bar with a pair of fairly Weimaraners either side of him. Majestic.
Try the Black Horse in Bingley. Or is it the White Horse? I always forget. Horses in pubs is a mistake, but try give the landlords dog a pat on the head or a friendly shake of the paw and it will quite literally eat your head off.
Bloke in Bibby Mulligan's had a dog that drank Jägermeister. Proper Queens Star Wars bar. McSorleys had a big fuck off cat about the size of a bull dog. That was just wrong. A pub, with a cat??? Fuck off.
I WANT A DOG! great article and great TAILS...... I would specifically go on a pub doggie trail to visit all these wonderful characters. A Lonely Planet Doggies in pubs guide would be brill.
This is for Arry'sfatwallet(chortle, chortle...) www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDyOD1C67J0
The Kings Head,Llangennith on the gower is a well dog friendly pub, the landlords lurcher roams freely in the bars. I often find the canine clientele better behaved than the humans ! My GS pointer loves going to the pub as much as his owner.....
Dog and Gun in Keswick. Brilliant dog pub
Check this pub out in the Lakes http://www.watermillinn.co.uk/
I love this! We found that all the Youngs pubs in London are dog friendly, many pubs in South London permitted dogs. We now live in Kuala Lumpur and were thrilled to find that, whilst its not that common to do so, many pubs do permit dogs. Our English Bull Terrier is a real rarity and talking point here.
Massive Alsatians. All for that.
Susie's Saloon in Amsterdam - most dog friendly pub I know.
I used to take my Springer Bitch to the pub...sit quietly in the corner with a pint....the girls used to be all over that hound....her Master didn't do badly either!
'Mon the dugs!
"watching a steaming turd being dropped while you're supping your pint". This is the kind of ignorance dog owners have to put up with. Dog's don't poo in buildings, unlike people, who pee and puke in doorways after they drank too much...
Great article, my westie angus is better behaved and cleaner than most of the screaming kids who run around pubs today with parents who cant control them. A wet dog in front of a fire eating pork scratchings while u enjoy a pint and good chat that is the definition of contentment
Those who liked this might like to know there's now a dogs in pubs website! Hoorah! http://dogsinpubs.com/
Cant trust a man who does not like dogs.
Used to drink in a pub in deepest darkest Essex, lovely place until the landlord got sick and a relief manager took over. He had a great big fuck off Rhodesian ridgeback, which was quite definitely not right in the head,it would head butt doors open and chew stool legs while it glared at us, mental it was. then one day he told us, whatever we do, not to give the bastard any pickled eggs, said they were bad for it's guts !...well there was a challenge if ever we heard one, Every night that dog would stink the place out, while 20 regulars swore blind it wasn't them that fed the bloody dog .
You've forgotten that other great pub/dog tradition - dogs on pub roofs. As one of the other posters mentioned, nearly always an Alsation woofhead barking at all and sundry from the roof garden of the landlord's flat. Whether you grew up on an estate in Manchester, Doncaster or Newcastle, there was always a dog on a pub roof somewhere barking at you.
I'd like to give a shout out to Bridgnorth, Shropshire, who have a good number of dog-friendly pubs - particularly the White Lion who top the bill with real fires, handpulled ales, homemade pies and scotch eggs and a dog-friendly policy. It's our lurcher's favourite place to be (according to the other half)...
Cheers for all the suggestions! And yes, Mark, Alsatians on estate pub rooves are ace!
Firstly, what pet owners should realise is that they acquired their pets for their pleasure, not anyone else’s, and they should be utterly respectful of that when out and about in public places where the following also has to be taken into account... If one dog is allowed into a pub then what about when 10 or more people turn up with dogs. No thanks, I think the pub owner would lose a lot of customers as well as get a visit from the health & hygiene authorities. Dogs shed hair, lice and other things they carry on their fur and particularly on their paws, and dogs naturally shake themselves to rid themselves of this in the same way they shake water from their fur when wet. Additionally, wet dog hair naturally stinks; imagine half a dozen or so in a pub on a wet day and shaking themselves with that entire debris landing all over the place. I don’t want any of that in my pub sandwich or beer glass thank you. Over 30% of the UK population suffer with allergies of which it is estimated upwards of 75% of those allergies are triggered by pet dander. What would a dog owner think if I put something in their face that would make them sneeze and rub their eyes uncontrollably? Most dog owners have no qualms at picking up dog faeces; do they wash their hands thoroughly and just think of the things they are likely to touch whilst in a pub. Frightening to say the least! Any dog, no matter what its temperament will bite at anyone who may accidentally stand on the dogs toes, a very likely occurrence in a busy pub. Would the dog owner or pub owner be willing to meet the liability of this happening? Dogs are naturally territorial and not just with other dogs but humans too, would you like to be responsible if a child walked past your dog at your table and got bitten by your dog? Additionally, some people, especially children are frightened of dogs; would you like to be somewhere where something frightened you? A lot of people like going to the pub dressed, business people in suits etc. Is it really acceptable to have your dog brushing up against people’s clothing? No! And are you willing to pay the bill to have a suit cleaned. Dogs communicate usually by barking at each other; Sorry but I like to go to the pub for a quiet time not listen to dogs barking at each other. Animals are not humans and sorry but children do come first in my book even though I don’t believe that even children should be allowed into a public bar, for all sorts of reasons. Just remember, it’s your pet not mine and keep it at away from me, I love animals but only those in their natural environment and am frankly incensed at people who treat their pets like children, they are not! And for all you pet lovers out there... animals are meant to be free not genetically made living toys for mans pleasure. Please inflict your pleasures elsewhere!
Since this article appeared I have acquired a dog. I now like dogs. Strange how things turns out. He doesn't like other dogs though, therefore I would be loth to take him into a dog-friendly pub.
SABOTAGE
