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Long gone are the days when dog-friendly hotels meant a measly bowl of water left outside the front door. The UK travel industry is matching our reputation as a nation of dog lovers with a wealth of luxury properties

offering a reimagined focus on pets. As well as receiving a warm welcome, owners can now find a range of innovative packages to ensure their pooches are uber-pampered during their stay.

Four-legged friends new to city life can learn the ropes at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, where the Pampered Pooch package includes a training session. As well as receiving a dog bed, treat box and food bowl, pets can take part in a one-to-one class with the capital’s top dog trainers, who can educate on canine tube etiquette, walking without a lead and even working an iPad. Who

says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks(stpancraslondon.com)?In the heart of the New Forest, the Grade II-listed Burley Manor

(burleymanor.com) gives dogs their own mat, a bag of healthy treats sourced from Paws Deli in Lyndhurst, and special bowls to eat and drink from. Spend your days exploring the walking routes through the New Forest, or visiting a dog-friendly beach, such as Calshot, before returning to the hotel to tuck into Mediterranean sharing dishes in the dining room – the mushroom arancini is a must. Your pet can lounge in your bedroom while you enjoy your meal and is welcome in the bar or drawing room afterwards, should you fancy a nightcap. If you book one of the garden suites, which welcomes up to three small dogs, you can walk straight out of your room into the eight-acre grounds.

Located in West Sussex, within sniffing distance of the South Downs National Park, The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa

From grooming sessions to bespoke beds, high-end hotels are offering dogs just as many top facilities as their owners. A

surprising number of unique venues across the UK offer a warm welcome to our four-legged friends

WORDS ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE

L A P O FL U X U R Y

(hshotels.co.uk) is the perfect base for canines and humans. As part of the Muddy Paws package, dogs are greeted with the Spread Eagle Doggie Welcome Kit, which includes treats of pigs’ ears, a dog bowl, a mat and a Ruff and Tumble drying coat to take home. One of England’s oldest coaching inns, the hotel dates back to 1430 and boasts a range of characterful features, such as a secret passageway that was reputedly used by fleeing smugglers, a wig closet – thought to be the last remaining of its kind in an English hotel – and a suite said to have welcomed the Queen. Two- and four-legged guests can book in for a pampering session at the spa or with local master groomer Lesley Mills, respectively.

The Sandy Paws package at Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa (hshotels.co.uk), also in West Sussex, is inspired by the 30 acres of stunning private parkland surrounding the hotel. The gift of a ball thrower, tennis ball and dog torch for evening walks is sure to make every hound happy. Make sure you order one of the hotel’s picnic hampers, which comes complete with a bottle of locally made Tinwood sparkling wine, to take with you on bracing strolls along nearby Climping Beach.

Recently reopened after refurbishment, The Village Pub (thevillagepub.co.uk) in the Cotswold village of Barnsley offers a quintessential countryside escape; with just six rooms, booking is essential. While you’ll be won over by the roll-top baths, four-poster beds and charming decor, your pet will no doubt be equally as impressed by their own dog bed, treats and bowls. Food is at the heart of the property’s offer, with a focus on seasonal menus showcasing local produce. Luckily, with some of the area’s most beautiful countryside on the doorstep, you can both walk off any over-indulgence.

Opposite: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel; This page, clockwise from left: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel; Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa

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Cliveden House presents a

Downton Abbey-style escape for

both human and hound

The Duchess of Sussex’s pre-wedding haven, Cliveden House in Berkshire, presents a Downton Abbey-style escape for both human and hound – but it’s the latter who truly receive the royal treatment. Visiting pets (and their owners) will be given a personalised Cliveden lead, a dog-walking map of the estate – which boasts 378 acres of National Trust parkland – along with waste bags, towels, treats and torches for late-night exploring. Back at the hotel, a bed, bowl and feeding mat await, along with a gourmet meal from the chef’s special canine menu. It certainly has the bow-wow factor (clivedenhouse.co.uk).

For those wanting a classic British seaside break with refreshing salt air and windswept walks, Norfolk’s unspoilt coastline is just the thing for. The Victoria Inn (holkham.co.uk) is situated close to Holkham National Nature Reserve and dog-friendly Holkham beach – frequently voted one of the UK’s best beaches. Found at the gateway to the magnificent Holkham Hall Estate stately home, the classic inn dates back to 1838 and has a storied past. Pets are welcome in the main building’s super-stylish rooms, where they can snuggle down in their own bed. There’s also the option of secure outdoor kennels, which provide peace of mind for residents who might not want to have their dog in their room. Make sure you pop into the Beach Café in Wells-next-the-Sea so your pooch can experience the free in-house Wag ‘n’ Wash service while you take in the ocean views.

In Edinburgh, the Royal Mile Hotel (radissoncollection.com) has gone all out when it comes to doggy relaxation. The Radisson

Collection hotel has just introduced Doga yoga classes for pooches – the ideal way for them to perfect their Downward-Facing Dog – and provides a dog bowl, bed, toy and Harry’s Treats gourmet snacks in the boutique-style rooms.

From Rosehendra, a Cornish country idyll, to Hambury House, a thatched cottage in Dorset, Blue Chip Holidays (bluechipholidays.co.uk) offers dog-owners a range of premium properties to rent. On arrival at their luxury home-from-home, guests receive a Puppy Hamper with treats for all. Each property offers everything you need for a pooch-perfect holiday, including a lead, bowls, mat, bed with blankets and towels. 

Finally, sophisticated canines wanting an urban break should hightail it to ME London on the Strand (melondonhotel.com). The hip hotel’s Aura Host personal dog concierges will organise any spa treatments, gifts or walks that are required. Dogs are treated to a line-up of luxuries including chef-prepared food, mini bathrobes, towels and shampoo. The hosts can even arrange personal shopping for canine guests. The latest luxury fashions include Louis Vuitton leashes and Paul Smith dog collars, ensuring your pet will be as thrilled as a dog with two tails.

Opposite, clockwise from left: The Spread Eagle Hotel; Cliveden House; This page, clockwise from top: The Victoria Inn; Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Mile