A recent study reveals that 40% of UK drinkers dub beer gardens as their ‘ultimate happy place’. The average UK pub-goer will visit a beer garden between four and five times per month in summer. So it’s no surprise that Newcastle leads the pack with three entries in the top 10, making it a standout city for dog-friendly pub lovers.
This is why Dog Friendly Retreats has analysed 100 expert-recommended animal-loving pubs. Providing a definitive list of the best city pubs where dogs are genuinely welcome, shouted about on social media and have areas for walkies just a stone's throw away.
Unveiled below are the top 10 dog-friendly pubs with beer gardens. These spots go the extra mile to welcome paw-rents and their four-legged friends and should be contenders to visit this summer. One pub even serves a Sunday roast just for dogs.
Top 10 Dog-Friendly Beer Gardens
| Ranked | Pub | City | Dog-Friendliness Score (Out of 100) |
| 1 | Brandling Villa | Newcastle | 63.5 |
| 2 | The Greyhound Inn | Coventry | 58.6 |
| 3 | The Cliff | Poole | 51.7 |
| 4 | The Fishermans Arms | Plymouth | 51.5 |
| 5 | The Tyne Bar | Newcastle | 51.3 |
| 6 | Free Trade Inn | Newcastle | 50.8 |
| 7 | The Cutty Sark | London | 49.8 |
| 8 | The Dirty Onion | Belfast | 49.6 |
| 9 | The Wharf | Manchester | 49.1 |
| 10 | The Sheep Heid Inn | Edinburgh | 45.6 |
Newcastle's Branding Villa is coming out on top, followed by The Greyhound Inn in Coventry and The Cliff in Poole. All are in UK cities, which is ideal for urban travellers, going above and beyond for owners travelling with dogs this summer.
Why Pubs Are Adopting a Dog-Friendly Culture
Any owner knows that finding dog-sitting during the summer months is no easy feat. So, most have to consider and, in fact, want to share their getaway with their furry companion. As a result, more and more cities are putting provisions in place to ensure pet owners are welcome, providing environments, amenities and attractions to welcome dogs. It is having a huge positive impact on tourism in these areas, as 82% of owners are influenced by “a warm doggy welcome” when choosing a destination.
Data captured by Dog Friendly Retreats determined where each pub ranked based on amenities that owners would be looking out for when choosing the best watering hole. Ranking considerations included Google and TripAdvisor ratings, Instagram following, availability of water bowls and dog treats, whether they serve dog-specific snacks or beer, and distance to the nearest green space.
What Our Most Dog-Friendly Pubs Have To Offer
| Pub | Google Review Score | TripAdvisor Review Score | Instagram Followers | Dog Menu | Water Bowls | Dog Treats | Dog-Specific Bar Snacks/ Dog Beer | Distance to Green Space/Walk |
| Brandling Villa | 4.5 | 4 | 4,929 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 0.7 miles |
| The Greyhound Inn | 4.6 | 4.6 | - | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | 0.1 miles |
| The Cliff | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4,351 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | 0.2 miles |
| The Fishermans Arms | 4.7 | 4.6 | 429 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 0.2 miles |
| The Tyne Bar | 4.6 | 4.3 | 11.2K | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | 0.2 miles |
| Free Trade Inn | 4.7 | 4.3 | 14.8K | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | 0.2 miles |
| The Cutty Sark | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4,324 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 0.4 miles |
| The Dirty Onion | 4.5 | 4.1 | 11K | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | 0.2 miles |
| The Wharf | 4.5 | 4.2 | 6,829 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | 0.3 miles |
| The Sheep Heid Inn | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3,761 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | 0.1 miles |
Dog-Friendly Beer Gardens Taking The Top Spots
Brandling Villa, Newcastle
Photo taken from @brandlingvilla Instagram
Known for its extensive dog menu and quirky beer garden, the Brandling Villa offers everything a dog could want during a sunny afternoon at the pub. With a Google Review Score of 4.5 and a TripAdvisor Score of 4, where better to take furry friends?
Based on the outskirts of Newcastle in South Gosforth, Brandling Villa welcomes dogs all year round and is the only spot in the top 10 pubs that offers an actual dog menu. One TripAdvisor review said that “most importantly, they don’t just have a sign saying dogs welcome, I’m sure they’d rather have a pub full of doggos rather than humans if they could! Dog food, water bowls and treats behind the bar.”
Pawfect facilities:
- Dog menu
- Water bowls
- Dog treats
- Dog snacks/beer behind the bar
- Just 0.7 miles from Paddy Freeman's Park
The Greyhound Inn, Coventry
Photo courtesy of The Greyhound Inn Sutton Stop
Just 0.1 miles away from a park to walk the pup, The Greyhound Inn in Coventry ranks second on the list. This pub doesn’t even feel the need to shout about how welcoming it is to dogs on Instagram, as the amenities speak for themselves.
Located in the stunning Lake District at Hawkesbury, a popular hotspot for Brits searching for a walking holiday, with trails, mountains and hikes to suit the whole family, The Greyhound Inn is certainly in the perfect spot to be hosting some wagging tails this summer. The beer garden has a large grassy area, perfect for dogs, and shade for hot days.
Pawfect facilities:
- Water bowls
- Dog treats
- Just 0.1 miles from Coventry Canal Towpath (Hawkesbury Junction)
The Cliff, Poole
Photo courtesy of The Cliff at Canford Cliffs
For dog owners journeying South, The Cliff at Poole ranks third as a popular coastal location. Situated on the South West coast of England, The Cliff is the ideal pub to visit for pet owners looking for a pit-stop in the sunshine.
Dogs can have some treats and a swift drink before venturing out to Canford Cliffs for a stunning walk along the beach. Not a bad day out for those on two legs or four.
Pawfect facilities:
- Water bowls
- Dog treats
- Just 0.2 miles from Canford Cliffs Chine
The Fishermans Arms, Devon
Photo courtesy of The Fisherman’s Arms
The Fishermans Arms in Plymouth comes in fourth in the UK with an impressive TripAdvisor Review Score of 4.7, with one customer commenting that “The landlady’s cats & dogs are a feature with an ale named after one of the dogs.” Dog-lovers could be an understatement.
This quaint little pub provides dogs with everything they’ll need after a jaunt along the Devonshire coastline. While the beer garden is not huge, it is perfect for a flying visit where pets will receive lots of attention from punters.
Pawfect facilities:
- Water bowls
- Dog treats
- Dog snacks/beer behind the bar
- Just 0.2 miles from Hoe Park
The Tyne Bar, Newcastle
Photo taken from @thetynebar Instagram
The Tyne Bar is a heritage pub in Newcastle, and dogs are some of their most valued customers. With 11.2K followers on Instagram, often sharing their pups' time in the vast outdoor space, holiday-makers visiting the city need to put this spot on their go-to list.
The pub is located alongside the River Ouseburn, home to a number of walking options that dogs and their owners can enjoy. Such as Newcastle's famous Quayside and Ouseburn Valley. While classed as a beer garden, there are no grassy areas, something to consider if you’ll be pitching up for the afternoon.
Pawfect facilities:
- Water bowls
- Dog treats
- Just 0.2 miles from St Lawrence Park.
Methodology
Data was taken from multiple sources to create a seed list of 100 of the best dog-friendly city pubs in the UK, which featured a beer garden. These pubs were then analysed using multiple metrics such as Google and Tripadvisor reviews, Instagram followers, third-party data on dog amenities and more to rank them accordingly on which is the best for owners to take their dog and soak up some sun.