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Hotel breaks fit for man’s best friend

22nd March 2013 Print

Luxury hotels and dog-friendly service don’t always go hand-in-hand but, to coincide with National Pet Month (1 April-6 May), here are some suggestions from Pride of Britain Hotels, which will appeal to the very finest four-legged friends.

A luxury hotel fit for VICs in the Lake District

Canine guests receive a warm welcome at Holbeck Ghyll, where they are greeted by Daisy, the resident Golden Retriever. On arrival, dogs are given a welcome pack, complete with their very own blanket and biscuits. Alternatively, owners can opt to treat their pup to the VIC (Very Important Canine) package which, put together by Mungo & Maud – a swish London-based dog and cat outfitters – includes a matching collar and lead, blanket, bowl, toy and organic treats. The VIC package has proved to be popular with dogs of all sizes, as Olympic rower and gold medallist Pete Reed’s Chihuahua Maximus confirmed when he visited the hotel with his owner last summer. Set above Lake Windermere in the Lake District, the hotel is ideally placed for walks which will satisfy the most energetic of dogs. Dogs staying for two or more nights do so entirely free of charge.

A one-night stay costs £25 per dog; dogs staying for two or more nights do so free of charge. Owners stay from £140 pp (two sharing) for a night’s half-board, including a Michelin-starred dinner and a full Cumbrian breakfast.

Wiltshire for well-behaved dogs

Situated in seven-and-a-half acres of grounds fit for gallivanting, and surrounded by the rolling hills of Wiltshire’s famous Vale of the White Horse, The Pear Tree at Purton welcomes well-behaved dogs. On arrival at the small and privately-owned hotel, dogs are provided with a bowl, a selection of welcome chews and a large bottle of mineral water. Once checked in, hotel staff will happily point you in the direction of various walks, be it in the neighbouring woodland or further afield. And, handily, dogs are also supplied with their own bath towel in case they find the lily pond or wetlands overwhelmingly attractive and decide to jump in for a swim. Set yourselves up for the day with breakfast at the hotel – the restaurant was the first to receive the Wiltshire Breakfast Award – with eggs coming from hens in the village, honey from the owners’ bee hives and pork and jams sourced locally, too.

Dogs stay for free. Owners stay from £60 pp (two sharing) for a night’s B&B, including a daily newspaper and free Wi-Fi.

Cornish cuisine for hounds - or a self-catering option

Welcome at the hotel, in the garden and bedroom, dogs staying at The Nare, on Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula, will enjoy their seaside stay. Whilst most opt for their own table d’hôte menu for dinner, there’s also an à la carte menu to choose from and the chef will happily cater for special canine dietary requirements. The opportunities for walks and swims are endless, with the luxury country house hotel situated in National Trust land right next to the South West Coastal Path. Alternatively, let them scamper about on the sand; the hotel overlooks Carne Beach, where dogs can run freely during the winter, spring and autumn months although owners are asked to keep dogs on leads during the daytime in the summer. If your four-legged friend is more working dog than pampered pooch, he or she might be better suited to a self-catering stay in the hotel’s kennels, for which there is no charge.

A one-night stay costs from £16 per dog; working dogs stay for free. Owners stay from £135 pp (two sharing) for a night’s B&B, including afternoon tea.

24 of the 44 members of Pride of Britain Hotels welcome dogs including Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire, The Devonshire Arms in North Yorkshire and South Lodge in West Sussex.

Pride of Britain Hotels’ website provides a constantly updated list of late booking availability and special offers. To book an overnight stay, and for the best available price, visit prideofbritainhotels.com.