- The Brandling Villa in Newcastle is declared the ‘top dog’ of Britain’s pup-friendly pubs
- After a nationwide search spanning 110 venues, Rover.com reveals the best pubs for four-legged friends up and down the country
- The win comes as new research reveals dogs are becoming pub regulars in their own right, with almost half (47%) of owners saying their pooch is on first-name terms with pub staff
London, 15th September 2026: The Brandling Villa in Newcastle has been crowned Britain’s Most Dog-Friendly Pub, following a nationwide search by Rover, the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care. Rover’s expert Tavern Testers and their four-legged companions put 110 pubs up and down the country through their paces to find the very best places for pups and their people.
Leading the pack nationwide, The Brandling Villa stood out for putting dogs at the heart of the pub experience. With four-legged friends welcome all throughout the venue, fresh water and an impressive selection of treats, plus quirky touches including a ‘Jimmy Kibble’ treat machine, dog artwork and larger-than-life doggy murals, this Newcastle favourite is raising the bar for canine hospitality and making dogs feel every bit as welcome as their owners.
Also highly commended for their pup-pleasing efforts were The Lion at Basford in Nottingham and Church on the Hill in Glasgow, which shared second place – proving pubs across Britain are going above and beyond to give their four-legged regulars a warm welcome.
Rover’s reviewers judged pubs on a range of factors, including their booking systems, pup accessibility, welcoming atmosphere, staff communication, canine facilities, pet safety and the overall experience for their pooch – leaving no bone unturned.
BEST DOG-FRIENDLY PUB PER REGION
- North East – The Brandling Villa, Newcastle
- Scotland – Church on the Hill, Glasgow
- East Midlands – The Lion at Basford, Nottingham
- Yorkshire – The Penny Hedge – Whitby
- South East – Jolly Farmer – Worplesdon
- London – The Foxglove – Islington
- West Midlands – Quill & Scholar – Lichfield
- East of England – The Farmers Boy – Brickendon
- Wales – Greyhound Inn – Usk
- North West – The Queen’s Head – Troutbeck
- South West – The Curlew – West Parley
The ulti-mutt accolade comes as Rover’s research reveals dogs are becoming bona fide regulars at Britain’s pubs. Almost half (47%) of owners say their pooch is on first-name terms with pub staff, while 44% say they’re known by the landlord and locals alike (43%).
In fact, our four-legged friends may be better at working the room than their owners. While 43% of pet parents know the names of other dogs at their local, half (50%) of Brits* admit they have no idea what their owners are called. And more than a quarter (28%) owners say their dog would happily snub the park, in favour of a trip to the pub.
Charlie Cook, Pub Manager at the Brandling Villa adds: “We’ve always believed a great pub should welcome the whole family– and that absolutely includes the dog. Over the years, we’ve welcomed plenty of four-legged regulars through our doors, so we’ve had a lot of fun creating little touches that make a visit special for them too. To be recognised as Britain’s most dog-friendly pub is a fantastic honour and a real testament to the Brandling Villa team, who always go the extra mile to give you and your pup a proper Geordie welcome.”
Adem Fehmi, Rover’s Canine Behaviourist expert comments: “For dogs who are comfortable in social settings, a trip to the pub can be a really positive experience, offering plenty of mental stimulation through new sights, sounds and smells, as well as valuable quality time with their owners. The best dog-friendly venues understand that a warm welcome goes beyond simply allowing dogs through the door – having access to fresh water, enough space to settle and a calm, comfortable environment can all help dogs feel at ease. The Brandling Villa has clearly thought about the experience from a dog’s perspective, while adding plenty of fun touches for owners too, making it a worthy winner this year.”
For more information about this year’s dog friendly pub awards, please visit: https://www.rover.com/uk/blog/dog-friendly-pubs/.
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