On our Public House Officer’s hunt for the best dog-friendly pub in the South East, their journey took them to Hampshire, Kent, and – perhaps appropriately – Berkshire. When you’re heading out with your dog, it’s essential to check that the pub you’re going to will let you come with your best (furry) friend.
However, you can’t go far wrong with these dog-welcoming boozers. Bustling cities and country trails abound, but who came out on top?
Dog-Friendly Pubs Our Reviewer Visited in the South East
Our reviewer and their dog sampled the South East’s dog-friendly hospitality, and we’ve broken down their findings below. Read to the bottom to learn which pub took first place on the Pooch Pub Podium!
The George & Dragon, Fordwich
Address: The George & Dragon, King Street, Fordwich, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 0DB
Telephone: 01273 622386
Nearest train station: Sturry
Nearest bus stop: Fordwich Road
Reservations needed: Highly recommended to book at weekends due to popularity, and it might also be a good idea during the week
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £25-£30
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Monday to Saturday: 11am-11pm
- Sunday: 11am-10:30pm
Dogs are welcome everywhere but the indoor restaurant at The George & Dragon, so long as their paws are on the floor, their leads are attached, and their manners are on point. There’s a vast outdoor restaurant, however, that was filled to the brim with happy dogs while also providing shelter and its own kitchen.
Plus, treats, snacks, fresh water, beds, and blankets are on offer to keep your dog as comfortable as possible. The staff are quick to point you towards the treats (much to your dog’s delight, no doubt), and they provide enough water bowls for every dog to have their own. The pub also runs dog walks every few months. Despite the number of dogs present, the pub’s size meant that plenty of chilling-out space was available.
The Pavilion, New Ash Green, Sevenoaks
Address: The Pavilion, Punch Croft, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8HS
Telephone: 01474 874660
Nearest train station: Longfield
Nearest bus stop: Foxbury
Reservations needed: Recommended
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available, dogs welcome on a lead outdoors and in the bar area
Price range (meal and a pint): ~£20
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian and vegan options
Hours of operation:
- Monday to Thursday: 12pm-11pm
- Friday: 12pm-12am
- Saturday: 9am-12am
- Sunday: 9am-11pm
New Ash Green is a quiet little village with a lot of heart, and you and your dog can explore plenty of walks, old forts, and the Thames Estuary before pitching up at The Pavilion for one of their notorious gourmet burgers.
While The Pavilion can get pretty busy and loud, the staff are still extremely friendly towards dogs and have a strong understanding of how to make them feel comfortable. The pub also offers plenty of outdoor space (seriously, it’s enormous) and water bowls.
The Cock Horse Inn, Maidstone
Address: 39 The Street, Detling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3JT
Telephone: 01892 750233
Nearest train station: Maidstone East
Nearest bus stop: Jade’s Crossing
Reservations needed: Can accommodate walk-ins, but reservations are recommended during busy times
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £15-£20
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Thursday: 12pm-9:30pm
- Friday and Saturday: 12pm-10pm
- Sunday: 12pm-8pm
Just off the historic Pilgrim’s Way, The Cock Horse offers dogs an extremely warm welcome with treats behind the bar and water bowls all around the inside and outside of the building. Staff are quick to provide fresh water once they bring out human food, too. Plus, the outdoor space is highly secure, meaning that your dog can wander without you needing to worry.
The pub has changed over the years, but it’s actually stood in the same spot since the 1300s, and the old stables (from which the pub got its name) are still visible at the back of the building. The Cock Horse is an excellent spot for dogs and fans of time-worn (but freshly coated) pubs alike.
The Oak, Smannell
Address: The Oak, Smannell, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 6JJ
Telephone: 01264 363075
Nearest train station: Andover
Nearest bus stop: Community Centre, then a 20-minute walk
Reservations needed: Recommended
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): ~£20-£25
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian and vegan options
Hours of operation:
- Monday to Thursday: 12pm-10pm
- Friday and Saturday: 10am-11pm
- Sunday: 12pm-10.30pm
Any pub promoting mass dog meets as a social event is a massive plus in our eyes, and you’ll find surprisingly few on your travels around the country. The Oak, a picturesque pub in the Hampshire countryside, is one of them. It also offers treats, snacks, beds, blankets, and toys, as well as a great dog menu.
They even have a charity dog show, so if you think your pup can strut their stuff after being spoiled with toys and treats, why not let them show what they can do on the ca… erm, dogwalk?
The Hope & Bear, Reading
Address: The Hope & Bear, 153 London Road, Berkshire, RG1 5DE
Telephone: 01494 721049
Nearest train station: Reading
Nearest bus stop: Cemetery Junction
Reservations needed: Booking recommended due to popularity, but walk-ins welcome
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £25-£30
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Monday to Thursday: 12pm-11pm
- Friday and Saturday: 12pm-12am
- Sunday: 12pm-11pm
Reviews of the Hope & Bear are wildly enthusiastic about the number of dogs they saw in the beer garden and inside the pub. They always have dog biscuits and water available for your hungry, thirsty, furry friends.
For a city centre pub, the Hope & Bear offers a solid amount of outdoor running-around space, and dogs are allowed in all parts of the bar and dining area. Although it’s a little loud given its near-city-centre locale, there’s always a comfortable space for your pup, and the staff are super friendly and willing to engage with any dogs that cross their threshold.
The Royal Oak, Knowl Hill
Address: Round the Hill, Knowl Hill Common, Knowl Hill, Reading, Berkshire, RG10 9YE
Telephone: 01628 822010
Nearest train station: Maidenhead
Nearest bus stop: Square Deal Cafe
Reservations needed: Not needed
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £10-£15
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 10am-3pm, 5pm-9pm
- Friday: 10am-11pm
- Saturday: 10am-10pm
- Sunday: 10am-6pm
The Royal Oak is a recently renovated old-school pub with two regular beers and one changing guest brew. Everything in there is brand-spanking new, so you can enjoy some clean, fresh decor after walking Knowl Hill’s nearby bridleways.
They have bowls and treats available, with a great outdoor space. One of two Royal Oaks our PHO visited, they also welcome horses if you have one of those instead. They have a pizza van that pulls up outside every Tuesday for delicious, doughy human treats.
The Robin Hood, Chatham
Address: 364 Common Road, Blue Bell Hill, Chatham, Kent, ME5 9RJ
Telephone: 01634 861500
Nearest train station: Chatham
Nearest bus stop: Watson Avenue
Reservations needed: Recommended
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £20-£25
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Monday and Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday and Thursday: 12pm-10pm
- Friday and Saturday: 12pm-11pm
- Sunday: 12pm-6:30pm
Dogs are welcome in the bar and outside areas of the Robin Hood. Our reviewers noted just how many dogs were in the outside area – a hugely reassuring sign of a pub that loves dogs.
Despite the presence of its myriad canine guests, the pub’s quiet locale provides a calm atmosphere, well away from busy roads and boasting a spacious, chilled-out indoor area. And water bowls and treats are standard here.
The Chequers, Marlow
Address: 53 High Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1BA
Telephone: 01628 482053
Nearest train station: Marlow
Nearest bus stop: Marlow Station
Reservations needed: Recommended
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £20-£25, with some steaks that exceed that and lunchtime snacks that cost less.
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Monday to Thursday: 8am-11pm
- Friday and Saturday: 8am-12am
- Sunday: 8am-10pm
The Chequers, in the heart of Marlow and close to some beautiful dog walks along the Thames as well as the Chiltern Hills, is a quirky gastropub with rooms to stay over. For a £20 surcharge, you’re welcome to bring your dog to stay with you.
However, be sure to touch base with the pub before arriving with your dog, as they request that you let them know ahead of time. If you’re into steaks and looking for a special treat, they offer a pretty decadent menu of high-end meaty goodness to try.
The Fish Inn, Ringwood
Address: The Bridges, West Street, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2AA
Telephone: 01425 473185
Nearest train station: Bournemouth
Nearest bus stop: Meeting House Lane
Reservations needed: Recommended
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £20-£25
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:30am-9pm
- Friday: 11:30am-10pm
- Saturday: 11am-11pm
- Sunday: 11:30am-8pm
The Fish Inn is a beautiful pub, with a thatched roof and roots in the 16th century. Sitting on the banks of the River Avon and right near the New Forest, you’re a bone’s throw from heavenly walkies in every direction. If it’s a hot day, your pup can also have a splash around in the river to cool down, which wins The Fish Inn extra pup points.
The staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming, with the pub providing treats from the palm and bowls of water from taps in the garden. Plus, snacks are available at the bar.
The Royal Oak, North Gorley, New Forest
Address: Ringwood Road, North Gorley, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 2PB
Telephone: 01425 652244
Nearest train station: Southampton, and you’d then need to get to Ringwood Bus Station
Nearest bus stop: North Gorley Turn
Reservations needed: Recommended, although you can only book for indoor tables
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £25-£30
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Monday to Thursday: 11am-10pm
- Friday and Saturday : 11am-11pm
- Sunday: 11am-8pm
With wild ponies cavorting outside the window and dogs allowed in all indoor areas, The Royal Oak is ideal for a rest after some taxing New Forest walkies. The pub offers a calm, quiet, and spacious indoor area for dogs, complete with a supply of treats, poo bags, beds, blankets, and toys. Regular dog meetups and events also make The Royal Oak a dog haven.
That’s without even considering the menu of dog-safe pub classics, from fish and chips to burgers, as well as dog ice cream, dog beer, and pawsecco. The staff go out of their way to make dogs comfortable, and the pub garden is safe and secure for dogs to roam.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the South East: The Foresters Arms, Fordingbridge
The Forester Arms in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, winners of the Rover, The Dog-Friendly Pub Awards
Address: Frogham, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 2JA
Telephone: 01425 652294
Nearest train station: Salisbury
Nearest bus stop: Strawberry Farm
Reservations needed: Needed for dining as they get very busy, but walk-ins can sit outside
Indoor or outdoor seating: Both available
Price range (meal and a pint): £20-£25
Dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
Hours of operation:
- Monday to Thursday: 12pm-9pm
- Friday and Saturday: 12pm-10pm
- Sunday: 12pm-7pm
This family-run pub placed high in our reviewer’s affections. The Foresters Arms boasts a vast, secure garden and quiet, spacious indoor area where dogs could chill, as well as a whole range of dog amenities like treats, water (and a water bowl never far from arm’s reach), poo bags, beds, blankets, and a complete dog menu.
The whole family (including their resident pub dog) consists of dog lovers, and it shows in their establishment, with the staff showering our reviewer’s dog with attention. And as another pub in the New Forest alongside The Royal Oak, there are plenty of fantastic walks right on its doorstep.
Got a dog who would rather stay at home?
Some dogs prefer the creature comforts of home and would rather relax than go out adventuring. If your dog is reactive around food, shows signs of stress or anxiety when they’re out, or isn’t keen on exploring, a Rover dog sitter can help offer peace of mind. Whether you’re looking to book a sitter or dog walker, Rover can connect you with trusted professionals all over the United Kingdom.
