This is one of England’s largest counties stretching from Stamford and all the way up to Skegness. As Visit Lincolnshire says it “brings together the best of the city, countryside, and coast”. Complementing this balance are some of the best dog-friendly pubs in Lincolnshire.
The Best Pubs in Lincolnshire where Dogs are Welcome
This is dog country where there is mile-upon-mile of largely flat farmland and countryside revealing a rural idyll that leads you to a coastline with sandy beaches and nature reserves. Pet friendly pubs dot the landscape giving you and your fur baby a warm welcome with water bowls and treats, good pub grub and perfect pints.
Its coastline is not just about amusement arcades and fish and chips either. There’s Donna Nooke’s seal colony; Chapel St Leonard’s North Sea Look-Out where you will find the UK’s first marine observatory; and Cleethorpes’ four miles of sandy shore that ends in an estuary with SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) status, regarded as one of the 10 top estuaries in Europe and a UK hotspot for migrating birds.
Inland, there are bird havens such as Whisby Park where you might see a murmuration of starlings. On the Wolds pick up a trail on the 147-mile Viking Way, full of wildlife such as barking deer or muntjac. Visit the old RAF base in Woodhall Spa, once home to the Dambuster squadron, that is now a wildlife reserve with newts, snakes in its marshland and kestrels and owls overhead. These are just a few of the fantastic days out and best dog walks in Lincolnshire you can experience.
Dogs are welcome almost everywhere you go meaning Mutley and you can embark on an adventure in a little-known county that is full of surprises.
Our Top 7 Choices
Find below 7 of the best pet friendly pubs in Lincolnshire
1. The Dog and Bone, Lincoln
Voted one of the counties top 15 pubs by Lincolnshire Life, this is one of Bateman’s Breweries pubs that take dogs. It is within walking distance of the city centre and close to the university campus. In a quiet street, it has all the elements of a home-from-home complete with bookcases and games. Its outdoor area has plenty of seating with umbrellas and bunting. It has six real ale pumps with beers that have given it a thumbs up from CAMRA. Take a walk along the River Witham and drop by to experience a good dollop of Lincolnshire hospitality for you and your hound.
2. The Kings Head, Tealby
The local waxed jacket and wellie brigade would call this their second home, dropping in to meet up for a chin wag with friends, all who are likely to have their pooches in tow. Close to Market Rasen Racecourse it dates back to 1367, making it the oldest thatched pub in Lincolnshire. Deep in the Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, here you will be met with a lot of wagging tales. It is renowned for its farm to fork menu and it even serves an ale called Tealby Tipple, a tribute to its pretty village location. There is room in the Jack and Jill-style bar area to sample its posh pub grub with your pooch at your feet.
3. Tobie Norris, Stamford
It is one of six pubs owned by a company that has its own farm in nearby Tallington. Here pub grub is given a provenance boost with produce fresh from the farm. Expect Tallington lamb and Lincoln Red beef and desserts made from fruit from the farm’s orchard. The pub, dating back to 1280, is named after the bell-maker that once lived there who worked from home, making it his bell foundry. With seven rooms over three floors there is plenty of space for guests and their four-legged friends. Jeffrey Hudson Bitter from Oakham Ales and Pendeen Pale Ale from Bude Brewery are examples of what is on tap.
4. The Pig and Whistle, Healing
This one of the few dog pubs that go as far as having a menu for its four-legged patrons. Situated in the quaint village of Healing, just five miles from Grimsby, the Pig and Whistle is part of Healing Manor, a hotel set in 36 acres of parkland providing plenty of space for your fur baby to stretch his or her legs. After working up an appetite its time to tuck into locally sourced dishes that the pub provides. There’s veggie, vegan and meat options for you to choose from and free range turkey casserole, a protein bowl, scrambled eggs and even dessert with peanut butter for Fido.
5. Ye Olde Whyte Swan, Louth
Slap bang in the middle of this bustling market town on the edge of the Wolds, this pub, as bijou as it might be, will always have a place for you and your canine companion. If the dinky bar can’t fit you in there is a spacious courtyard at the back of the pub where you can put up your feet. One of the oldest pubs in Lincolnshire, dating back to the 1400s, it was touch and go for this dog-friendly pub recently, when it stood closed and falling into disrepair for a few years before being rescued by its current owners Jim and Sarah.
6. Horse and Groom, Lincoln
This beautifully renovated 18th century dog-friendly pub that has become an iconic Lincoln landmark at the end of Carholme Road, is ideally situated at the top end of Brayford Wharf, the country’s oldest inland harbour. Here you and your furry friend are going to be made to feel right at home. You can choose to sit outside and watch the boats come in and the swans glide on the water or you can get cosy inside where the kitchen is going to treat you to some posh pub grub. It is well-known for its creative dishes, using locally sourced produce.
7. The Wig and Mitre, Steep Hill
This is one of Lincolnshire pubs that allow dogs which you will need to visit if you are in the county’s capital. Set at the top of the city’s Steep Hill in both the shadow of the Lincoln Castle and the cathedral it dates back to the 14th century. It is now a dog-friendly destination for gourmet pub grub and real ales and is a firm-favourite with locals and visitors alike. The pub opens for breakfast and there are certain areas where dogs are more than welcome. Rover should be warned that the Wig and Mitre team are pushovers for pooches of all shapes and sizes.
Last Word
Thanks to its rural feel Lincolnshire is fast becoming a popular destination for dog owners. Here you can take a bracing walk along flat sandy beaches, walk the Wolds or visit edifices that date back a thousand years. Whatever’s your pleasure there is more than a handful of dog-friendly pubs for you to choose from, as well as a selection of Lincolnshire dog friendly hot tub cottage breaks.
We did our research to come up with seven of the best Lincolnshire dog friendly pubs here to help you plan your next break in this vast county that doesn’t disappoint. If you need help selecting a property, then see our list of pet friendly cottages in Lincolnshire and pet friendly log cabins in Lincolnshire.