You will be missed: Pups now banned from their favourite pub.
It’s hooch or the pooch.
We are a nation of dog lovers. With 8.5 million dog owners in the UK, it can be quite a controversial topic as to where we can take our beloved pets. New Kennel Club research finds 98% of dog friendly pubs believe four-legged customers improve business. However, as hygiene and social reasons continue to play a huge role in the popularity and success of a business, many pub landlords are making the decision to ban dogs from the premises. With no laws preventing dogs from being in areas where food is being served, it is up to the individual business to determine their own policy. Click here to see an Infogram on The Influence of Dogs in Businesses (Statistics from The Kennel Club).
A sad reminder to customers that dogs are no longer welcome.
The Red House Farm Bar and Restaurant located in the North East of England has recently made the decision to scrap its dog friendly title after welcoming them for 8 years. The action took place on Sunday 1st October and shall stay in place until further notice. After a recent increase of dogs in the bar area, landlord Chris Bremner felt the decision would aid the management of such a small environment.
With the number of dogs coming in to the establishment tripling over the past 12 months, Bremner felt that the mixed ratio of dog lovers to dog haters played a huge role in the decision and wanted to cater for both the needs of his customers and bar staff. Additionally, after speaking to waitress Annabelle Hill, she also agreed that the decision would be best for the future of the pub.
The RHF beer garden was once a PUP-ular hotspot for dogs on summer days.
Although the pub was popular with walkers due to its location near the coast and acceptance of dogs, in the long term, the advantages of being dog free would hugely benefit the pub. Since making the decision, there has only been a slight decrease in the number of customers, with sources saying that during weekdays previous dog-owning customers have swapped to another dog friendly pub nearby but still visit on weekends. However, with recent refurbishments, the banning of dogs shall maintain the high-quality of the interior and therefore bring new customers looking for a more luxury local. Click here for a Story Map of 15 Dog Friendly Pubs in the North East of England.
With over 187,000 members around the world, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) believe that well-run pubs play a critical social role in UK culture as the centres of community life. After contacting Katie Wiles, Communications Manager for CAMRA, she gave a greater insight into this matter on behalf of the society:
“We’d say that its up to the individual landlord to decide what is best for their pub. Some pubs hugely benefit from being dog-friendly, particularly if based in the countryside along walking routes – others that serve food may prefer to say no to dogs. At the end of the day, pubs are local businesses and have to be run in the way that best suits their community.”
– Katie Giles, CAMRA Spokesperson
The Kennel Club’s ‘Open for Dogs’ Campaign aims to persuade more UK businesses to be dog-friendly. With motives such as a yearly competition to find the most dog-friendly business, aims are high to make everywhere accepting of our pooches. Although the decision is up to the owner and what they think is best for their business, surely you can’t say no to those big brown puppy eyes!
Lottie and Rory will have to find a new local.
Lucy Clayton 