Boasting a major slice of the country’s Jurassic coast, Dorset is not only about rolling hills, Thomas Hardy and scones and clotted cream. Despite being spoilt for choice we have picked the best dog friendly pubs in Dorset.
Being a country of dog-lovers it is important to find pubs that take dogs because it isn’t uncommon for us to take our furry friends with us on our breaks. Luckily, a Dorset dog-friendly pub with traditional Dorset pub grub is not hard to find.
The Best Pubs in Dorset That Welcome Dogs
You are not going to be disappointed if it’s dog friendly Dorset you select as a holiday destination because it has its fair share of unique spots such as Bournemouth’s 7-mile stretch of golden shoreline where beach huts go for £90,000. Then there is the village of Puddleton that hasn’t changed much since it changed its name from Piddleton so as not to offend Queen Victoria on her visit there.
If it is a Dorset mini-break you heading on, then be sure to check our Dorset holidays with dogs.
We also cover Dorset dog friendly hot tub cottage breaks here.
This selection of seven of the best Dorset dog pubs takes us from the fossil-rich shores past the Purbecks and on to forts dating back two thousand years.
Here are our favourite pubs that allow dogs in Dorset that and have pub grub that very often include scones and Dorset’s clotted cream, award-winning ales and welcoming dog policies.
Our Top 7 Choices
Find below 7 of the best pet friendly pubs in Dorset
1. The Pig – on the beach, Studland
A visit to Studland isn’t complete without a visit to The Pig, a grand turreted edifice perched on a prime spot overlooking the ocean. It has a path from the beach that leads directly to its dog-friendly grounds that include a walled garden and roaming Dorset Horn sheep. Although you can’t take your furry friend into the conservatory restaurant there is plenty of space that allows dogs for alfresco dining where you can enjoy the sounds of waves crashing while you enjoy “plot to plate” pub grub that includes sea-foraged ingredients.
2. The Greyhound Inn, Corfe Castle
Take a trip inland to the fascinating village of Corfe and in the shadow of the formidable ruins of Corfe Castle is the Greyhound Inn that not only welcomes dogs but gives them space both inside and out. There is a direct path leading from the castle to the 250-seater garden nestled below. Everywhere you look from the freshwater dog bowls to the sculpture of a greyhound are clues to just how dog-friendly they are. The Greyhound prides itself in its Dorset clotted cream teas and its fresh fish and chips and its selection of local ales such as Ringwood Boondoggle.
3. The Blue Vinny, Puddleton
This pub welcomes dogs both inside and out. It is set in the historic village of Puddleton 10-minutes from Dorchester. Once Piddleton, due to its proximity to the River Piddle, legend has it that the name was changed in respect for Queen Victoria’s state visit. Puddleton is no stranger to name changes because it was called “Weatherby” in Thomas Hardy’s novels. Why not take the five-mile walk from the thatched cottage Hardy’s birthplace in High Brockhampton to Puddleton? Here there will be fresh water for Fido and you treat yourself to a Blue Vinny baguette, the soft cheese the pub is named after.
4. Sailor’s Return, Chaldon Herring
Just two miles from the sea Chaldon Herring’s jewel in its quaint crown must be this longhouse thatched inn. A dog pub most definitely, it also offers gourmet pub grub like Purbeck Sika venison and real cask ales for its two-legged guests. For the more energetic, start the dog friendly Dorset pub trail, a circular walk that takes you along the South Dorset Downs, starting at Lulworth Cove, past Durdle Door with a pit stop at the Sailor’s Return. Here you can enjoy half a pint of prawns and a pint of Otters real ale before heading back.
5. Chetnole Inn, Chetnole
This sweet little inn with an interior that mixes old and new draws a dog-friendly crowd, especially in its bar area and gardens. Flagged floors, low ceilings and log-burning stoves keep it cosy and you can enjoy a pint of Copper Gold Rush, brewed just two miles away. Tuck into a steak and ale pie followed by homemade Kingston Black apple crumble alfresco in warmer months or retreat to the snug bar on chillier days. Sherborne Castle built by Sir Walter Raleigh 425 years ago and its dog-friendly gardens are five miles away.
6. The Square and Compass, Swanage
It’s the no frills, no fuss approach that has given this dog-friendly pub its exemplary reputation. The outdoor area with its views of the hills and miles of coastline certainly has the wow-factor. Its pub grub of homemade pasties and pies is famous and you can sample them at the tables and chairs hewn from Purbeck stone in its sloping garden. It is on the outskirts of the Victorian seaside town of Swanage that is serviced by a steam train that welcomes dogs and travels 5.5 miles to Norden, stopping at Corfe Castle.
7. The Three Tuns, Bransgore
Situated on the edge of the New Forest Country Park and just three miles from Christchurch this 17th century thatched pub welcomes dogs and their owners alike. Priding itself on locally sourced pub grub you can enjoy its pulled brisket burger or roast aubergine and parsnip pie in the idyllic garden setting. Perhaps you want to take a walk in the New Forest, stopping at the Three Tuns for a Ringwood ale, brewed only five miles away. A popular trail that is dog-friendly and only 2.5 miles explores that site that was once RAF Holmsley South and the New Forest Airfields’ Memorial.
Last Word
Dorset isn’t short on pubs that welcome dogs or fantastic days out. You can have a pint at the foot of imposing castle ruins or you can sit on chairs, eat at a table hewn from local stone or sit in a cosy bar with flagged floors and low beams with your beloved pet in tow.
Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is a natural marvel and brings thousands of visitors to the county every year. Not only that, pet friendly log cabins in Dorset give those of us the option of taking our fur babies on holiday with us and you can also visit some of the pet friendly beaches in Dorset.