The High Road Brasserie

We set out to visit fabled Pizza spot Franco Manca having heard great things about it, but we got them on a bad day.  It was chaotic, the staff were fairly unfriendly, and didn't seem at all interested in helping to seat us on a table away from the road and in a place where a dog would be happy and not get in the way.  In fact once they saw that we had a dog they kind of lost interest in helping us at all.  We were offered a table closest to the door (as ever the busiest, most inconvenient place for a dog to be) on the promise that it would be cleared shortly, but nobody seemed to be in any rush to do so.

So we gave up and walked a few doors down Chiswick High Road to The High Road Brasserie where the staff were twice as busy but one hundred times more friendly and helpful, making the rushed folks at Franco Manco look rather silly.  If you come here with a dog you'll have to sit outside, but don't let that put you off.

We were given a table in a quiet spot where our dog could sit in peace, and the waiting staff were quick to say hello and offer us all a drink.

The food was great.  Small tapas plates as a starter (3 for £12) and a very generous bavette for just £9 made for a very economical night out.  

It was a warm evening and we decided to stroll home, passing Franco Manca. Still not that busy. Still looking distinctly unfriendly.

162-166 Chiswick High Road, W4 1PR

http://brasserie.highroadhouse.co.uk/

The Serpentine Bar & Kitchen

Today the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen will take the World Stage as the Olympic open water swimmers splash past it at great speed.

It deserves a mention as a great dog-friendly spot if you're walking through the Hyde Park.  All kinds of hot and cold drinks, delicious breakfast for early risers, and a well stocked bar for sundowners, there's no finer place for watching wild fowl coming and going on the Serpentine.  Particular highlights include Swans taking off and Canada Geese attacking tourists...

Dogs are welcome on the large terrace but not allowed inside, and there are sections covered by a canopy that looks kind of spacey in case it's raining. Drinking bowls are always full and the staff are very friendly.

Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH

http://www.serpentinebarandkitchen.com/index-ser

The Orange

Pimlico leaves dog owners facing something of a dilemma.  Acres of residential streets dotted with expensive restaurants, very few of which are dog-friendly.

The Orange is a welcome exception.  Technically a pub, but highly accomplished if you are nice bar snack or a sit down meal, The Orange is friendly and buzzing throughout the year.  In summer there are tables on the pavement that get sun until mid-evening. Sit there with your dog and a glass of rose and wait for a break in the traffic along Pimlico Road and you might even believe that you are in Provence (you'll probably have to close your eyes too.)

It's a very dog-friendly place.  The staff are always keen to come and say hello to new faces and will offer you a dog bowl and some water even if you don't ask for it.

The only thing that you might need to be careful about is the proximity of Pimlico Road - unless your hound is very well behaved it would be unwise to let them off the lead here...

37 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8NE

http://www.theorange.co.uk

The Sands End Pub

The Sands End has gained a reputation for really excellent food and wine in recent years, but despite that it still has the atmosphere of a good old friendly pub.  Dogs are made to feel very welcome and usually you are allowed to sit anywhere.


There are a few tables outside on the pavement which are good for sunny afternoons and warm evenings.  Inside it's cosy and homely.  There's an area that feels more restauranty towards the back, but we felt like sitting near the bar where there happened to be several other dogs.  The staff were very eager to please and seemed really happy to see a four-legged customer with a wet nose and a waggy tail.


If you're anything like us you'll find the range of bar snacks particularly exciting - large sausage rolls and other home-made treats that should be consumed in moderation by both dogs and their owners!




135-137 Stephendale Road, London, SW6 2PR


http://www.thesandsend.co.uk/

The Cat's Back

When there's live music on the Cat's Back could be a little overwhelming for dogs, but at any other time a it's a rewarding experience.

The whole place feels very genuine.  There's always some interesting real ale on tap, most of it local.  An assortment of interesting furniture and a roaring coal fire ensure that the atmosphere is anything but sterile.  


It's cosy and welcoming in a way that so many places struggle to be in the era of the soulless gastropub makeover.

The food feels equally unfussy - it's all genuine pub food and the hearty roast on Sundays is generous and not too pretentious.

There always seem to be a few dogs around, making for a sociable environment that feels positively dog-friendly rather than just being dog-tolerant.  Hats off to the Cat's Back...


86-88 Point Pleasant, Wandsworth, London SW18 1PP


http://www.thecatsback.com/

The Elgin

The area around Ladbroke Grove Station feels unpromising for dog owners until you step into The Elgin. 


Another Geronimo Inn (see here and here), The Elgin does excellent pub food and dogs are welcome, no matter where you want to sit inside. Just be careful not to position yourself too close to the drum kit on live music nights!


The recent refurbishment is particularly sympathetic to our four-legged friends with warm carpeted areas proving a more attractive proposition than wooden flooring on cold blustery days.


And in the summer months the outside tables on both sides are excellent for people-watching.

96 Ladbroke Grove, London, W11 1PY http://www.geronimo-inns.co.uk/theelgin/

The King John Inn

There are many good things to say about this quiet spot on the Wiltshire/Dorset border.


Although not all of the rooms are dog friendly, as long as you let them know in advance, bringing a dog for an overnight stay shouldn't be a problem. 


A very cosy dog blanket and water bowl will be waiting for you on arrival, and the rooms are simply top-notch. The large comfy bed and enormous bath tub were memorable features on a wet and cold weekend.


The restaurant is 100% dog friendly and the wafts of delicious gamey dishes come out of the kitchen door with suitable regularity to make stopping at the bar for a quiet drink nigh-on impossible.


There's a roaring fire and ample space for dogs who like to stretch out on the floor.  Winos should note that the King John Inn has an excellent cellar, and a wine shop on site should you find anything so good that you want to take it home.


The surrounding area is great for walking with the rolling green hills of Cranborne Chase all around you and the bracing sea air of Lulworth Cove about half an hour away by car.


The King John Inn, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, SP5 5PS

http://www.kingjohninn.co.uk/