Rover’s Dog Friendly Pub Awards 2026: Seeking Tavern Testers!
Rover is calling all dogs and their owners to apply to embark on a paid* summer adventure ’ – helping them to crown the UK’s ult-mutt dog friendly pub!
It’s no secret that two of the nation’s greatest loves are the pub and our dogs. Now, new research from Rover.com, the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care, has revealed the formula for the ‘perfect pint’. According to Brits, it’s 7.30pm on a sunny Friday afternoon, enjoyed in a beer garden with your dog by your side!
With this in mind, Rover is seeking eleven ‘Tavern Testers’ to embark on a compensated summer adventure, helping to sniff out the most dog-friendly pub in the UK. As part of this exciting role, testers – and their furry companions – will be paid £1,000 to visit pubs in their local area and assess them on their dog-friendly amenities over the course of six weeks.
Successful applicants must be 18+, will be sociable, enthusiastic dog owners with a well-behaved pooch who’s just as comfortable in the pub as they are. A reliable means of transport is essential, along with a willingness to travel. Applicants should also be digitally savvy, with strong social media experience and an active account to document and share their journey.
Those selected will visit a total of 10 pubs in their region, rating everything from treats and water bowls to atmosphere and staff welcome, while documenting their experiences through photos, videos and reviews for Rover.
To apply for the ‘Tavern Tester role’ complete the online application form, here, by 6pm 7th June 2026. Share a bit about yourself, your canine companion, and why you think you’d be perfect for this role. Please read the T&Cs below before applying. Your application will be reviewed by a Dog Behaviour Expert, more detail in the terms and conditions below.
Please note, by entering the competition, you grant Rover and its partners the right to use your content featured on the Rover website, social channels, and within Rover’s PR communications.
*Please note this posting is not an offer of employment or an independent contractor relationship with Rover or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. This campaign is run in collaboration with Brands2Life, who will manage the selection and compensation of the Tavern Testers. The fee is inclusive of all expenses; individual purchases at the pubs (food and drink) will not be reimbursed
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ROVER UK TAVERN TESTER TERMS & CONDITIONS 2026
The Dog Friendly Pubs competition (“Competition”) is operated and promoted by DogBuddy UK Ltd, of 5 New Street Square, London, EC4A 3TW (“Promoter”), a subsidiary of A Place for Rover, Inc., ( collectively the “Promoter”) in collaboration with the agency Brands2Life Limited (“B2L”). By entering, you acknowledge that B2L acts as a data processor for the Promoter and will be the party responsible for the direct contracting and payment of selected Testers.
Eligibility: The competition to become a Tavern Tester is open only to legal residents of United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) who are over the age of 18 and own a dog. Directors, officers and employees of Promoter and any of its respective affiliate companies, subsidiaries, agents, professional advisors, development and promotional partners, and advertising and promotional agencies, and immediate families of each, are not eligible to enter.
Competition Period: The competition period of entry will begin at 9:00 am [GMT] on 19th May 2026 and end at 6:00 pm [GMT] on 7th June 2026] (“Competition Period“). Entries received after this time will not be valid.
How to Enter
Complete the application form.
Any entries failing to meet the aforementioned criteria will be deemed invalid. The Promoter will not accept responsibility for entries that do not reach the email inbox due to technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
By submitting an entry, you are agreeing to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.
- Limit on Entries. There is a limit of one (1) entry per person, regardless of method of entry. Even if an individual submits multiple videos, only the first valid entry will be considered.
The Selection & Nature of the Prize:
Up to 11 individuals will be selected as winners. The Prize consists of the opportunity to be appointed as a “Tavern Tester.” This appointment is strictly contingent upon the winner entering into a formal Service Agreement with B2L (the “Service Agreement“). Failure or refusal to sign the Service Agreement within 48 business hours of notification will result in forfeiture of the Prize and the selection of an alternate winner.
Judging Criteria:
Winning individuals will be judged by the Dog behaviourist Expert, Adem Fehmi and will be evaluated on:
- Creativity and originality
- Quality of visuals
- Emotional storytelling
- Relationship with dog
- Dog happiness
- The winners will be contacted during the week of June 15th, 2026. Upon execution of the Service Agreement, each Tavern Testers will then be selected and each Tavern Tester will be tasked with testing 10 pubs in their region over the course of 6 weeks
- Tavern Testers’ Obligations (as detailed in the Service Agreement)
- Tavern Testers are responsible for:
- Working with B2L and the Promoter to identify suitable pubs for judging – pubs must show indication of basic dog friendly elements (such as dogs being allowed inside/ providing dog bowls) on website/ pub social channels
- Visiting each pub and completing a questionnaire provided by the Promoter.
- Taking social media friendly photographs of their dog and dog friendly facilities provided by the pub. They must also ensure they ask for permission before filming or taking any photographs.
- Submitting the questionnaire and images to Rover no later than 1 week after each pub visit
- Their own purchases at the pubs. Any food or drink consumption will not be covered by the Promoter or B2L
Fees and Payment:
In consideration for the completion of the services (judging 10 pubs) as set out in the Service Agreement, B2L will pay the Tester a total fee of £1,000 (inclusive of any applicable taxes). This is a fee for services rendered and shall not be classified as a tax-free windfall or gambling prize. This will be paid by B2L in 2 parts: £500 at the start of week 1, and £500 upon successful completion of the 10th pub visit and submission of all required deliverables.
General Terms and Conditions:
The Competition and these Terms & Conditions will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of England and entrants to the Competition submit to the jurisdiction of the English courts.
Any provision of these Terms & Conditions- deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these Terms & Conditions will remain in effect.
Promoter shall not be responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, damaged or misdirected entries. If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these Terms & Conditions, the Promoter may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to exclude you from participating in the Competition.
Data Privacy: Entrant data will be processed in accordance with the Promoter’s Privacy Statement. By entering, you acknowledge that your video and contact details will be shared with B2L for the purpose of judging and contract administration. By submitting an entry, you agree that Promoter, B2L or its partners may contact you regarding the Competition and may send you other promotional content. Promoter may share information collected in connection with this Competition with its affiliates for the purposes of administering the Competition in accordance with these Official Rules and to inform you of other promotions, all subject to Promoter’s Privacy Statement.
By entering this Competition you agree that the Promoter can use your name, photograph, likeness, details of the country and/or city where you live, any comments made by or attributed to you for the sole purpose of promoting and marketing the Competition, including but not limited to, any audio/visual recording or broadcast for such promotional purposes, in any media, throughout the world.
No Employment Relationship: Participation in this Competition and the subsequent performance of services as a Tavern Tester does not create an employment, partnership, or agency relationship between the entrant and the Promoter. Testers act as independent contractors to B2L.
Promoter reserves the right to amend these Terms & Conditions or to terminate the Competition where it becomes necessary to do so. If such amends become necessary, Promoter will inform and provide an overview of the relevant amendments to all participants by email. By entering the Competition, entrants (i) confirm that they have complied with these Terms & Conditions and are
eligible to enter the Competition, and (ii) agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Promoter, which are final and binding in all respects.
All rights reserved. © 2026 A Place for Rover, Inc.
Applying? Check out the UK’s best dog-friendly pubs 2025.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the UK
The Foresters Arms, Fordingbridge, South East
According to Rover’s Public House Officer (PHO), Luke James, and his husky Yoshi, The Foresters Arms provided the most exceptional canine-focused hospitality among the 110 establishments they visited across the country. Pups were not just welcomed, but truly celebrated, with thoughtful touches that made everyone feel at home. The Forester’s Arms genuinely stood out as somewhere they could return over and over.
With its wide array of amenities, including a dog-safe menu, treats, poo bags, beds, blankets, and a secure garden, as well as knowledgeable, thoughtful staff who went over and above to create a calm, safe environment, The Foresters Arms set a very high bar for dog-friendly pubs in the UK.
Other highly ranked pubs in the search for the ultimate dog-loving pub experience included The Jam Garden in Loughborough, East Midlands and Ferry Boat Inn, North Fambridge, East of England.
Here are the picks for each region our PHO visited. Make sure you check out the complete list of contenders for each!
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the East of England: Ferry Boat Inn, North Fambridge
A historical Essex mainstay, The Ferry Boat Inn allows dogs to stay overnight in their dog-friendly bedroom, offering ice pops, biscuits, and sausages for your dog while you both take in the sea air. There’s also plenty of room for your dog to chill out in their sizeable, secure outdoor space.
Discover more dog-friendly pubs in the East of England.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the East Midlands: Jam Garden, Loughborough
When a pub has treat tables both inside and outside, you know they have a winning approach to a dog-friendly environment. With blankets, a large, secure garden, and dog-obsessed, helpful staff, The Jam Garden was our PHO’s favourite pub in the East Midlands.
Plenty more dog-friendly pubs impressed our reviewer in the East Midlands — check them out here.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in London: Prince of Wales, Elephant & Castle
It can be tough finding a quiet spot in the Capital, making the Prince of Wales a special place to take your dog, with incredibly obliging staff and an excellent shaded courtyard.
London is home to a whole host of dog-friendly pubs. Learn more here.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the North West: Fairhaven, Lytham St. Anne’s
The staff at Fairhaven are more than happy to guide you to a cosy corner where your dog can decompress after a wonderful beach walk nearby. Add a Sir Woofchester’s menu and some fantastic local dog-friendly amenities, and Fairhaven is onto a winner in the North West.
You and your dog can enjoy plenty more dog-friendly pubs in the North West — find out more about them here.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the North East: George & Dragon, Yarm
The George & Dragon is as “local boozer” as a pub gets, but the extreme friendliness of the staff to both humans and dogs sets it apart in the North East. A rare, quiet, town-centre pub with a surprisingly big outside space, water, bowls, and treats galore.
Our reviewer explored other dog-friendly pubs in the North East — discover more here.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in Scotland: The Tinsmith, Dundee
Offering up treats, water, dog-safe ice creams, and even balls, Dundee’s The Tinsmith stood out north of Hadrian’s Wall. The food and drinks for humans are pretty spectacular, too.
See what else dog-friendly pubs in Scotland have to offer.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the South East: The Forester’s Arms, Fordingbridge
This beautiful spot near the New Forest offers a plethora of amenities for dogs, including treats, water, beds, blankets, and a whopping dog menu. The entire family of The Foresters Arms‘ owners loves dogs, and the pub has massive secure spaces inside and out.
Sniff out even more dog-friendly pubs in the South East here.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the South West: The White Hart, Bishopstone
An extremely welcoming drinkery with a great beer selection, varied dog menu, and a gigantic, secure garden perfect for running around, The White Hart is a wise choice in the South West for canines and their humans alike.
Learn more about dog-friendly pubs in the South West here.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in Wales: Blaina Wharf, Newport
Blaina Wharf offers a carvery for the humans and a spacious separate dining room for people with dogs to eat in peace. Fresh water, treats, and poo bags top off a spot-on dog-friendly experience on the River Usk.
Have a look at the most dog-friendly pubs in Wales here.
The Best Dog-Friendly Pub in Yorkshire: The Fox & Hound, West Witton
The Fox & Hound is a stunning pub with superb food, sublime beer, and conscientious staff who know exactly how to greet and seat a customer with a dog — water, treats, and all.
Check out the other dog-friendly Yorkshire pubs.
Hero Image: ROVER DOG FRIENDLY PUB AWARD WINNER 2025, The Foresters Arms, Fordingbridge, South East
