The Bellflower in Garstang, Lancashire has been named as Britain’s most dog-friendly pub in the prestigious Great British Pub Awards.
With unlimited access to premium dog treats, a wide selection of bowls and blankets, water dispensed from ale and lager barrels and an abundance of toys, The Bellflower has worked hard to create an environment that is a “home away from home” for every canine companion, according to the judges. The pub also helped to raise money for a local animal charity through the sale of balls.
Sponsored by online pet care marketplace Rover.com, the Best Pub for Dogs category of the Great British Pub Awards celebrates pubs that go above and beyond in creating a welcoming and homely space for pets.
Rover Trends Expert Kate Jaffe said: “We are delighted that The Bellflower has been recognised for making their establishment as dog-friendly as possible. We hope that this will pave the way for many more dog-friendly pubs and venues across the country, so that every dog (and pet parent!) gets the chance to experience a stress-free visit to their local pub.”
Ed Bedington, head judge of The Great British Pub Awards, added: “The Bellflower takes its commitment to being a dog-friendly venue seriously in ensuring all members of the public – human or dog – feel fully welcomed as soon as they step inside. It’s the care that is shown behind the scenes; undertaking regular risk assessments and carrying out special staff training to attend to all dogs’ needs, that really stood out to judges.”
Founded in 2011 and operating in ten countries, Rover claims to be the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care with services such as pet sitting, dog walking, in-home boarding, drop-in visits, and doggy day care all bookable via the platform.
A Rover survey completed via Pollfish in June this year found that almost a third (32%) of pet owners say they wouldn’t visit a pub if it wasn’t dog friendly, while 56% said they were twice as likely to talk to someone they don’t know if they were with a dog than without.
