Best dog-friendly beer gardens to visit this summer
Date published: 5 Jun 2026
Sunny afternoons and dogs have a lot in common. Neither likes staying indoors for too long. Add a cold drink, a bit of fresh air and somewhere to settle in for a few hours, and you've got the perfect recipe for a summer day out.
The UK's best dog-friendly pubs are more than somewhere to stop for a quick drink. They're places where muddy paws are welcome, walking routes start from the doorstep, and your four-legged companion gets just as much out of the day as you do.
From coastal spots overlooking the sea to countryside hideaways surrounded by walking trails, we've rounded up some brilliant places where the beer garden becomes part of the adventure. Lead at the ready. Tennis ball optional.
The Ship Inn, Low Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland
Dogs don't really do beach etiquette. They sprint first and think later. Fortunately, Low Newton-by-the-Sea is exactly the sort of place where that works perfectly. After tearing around the dunes, investigating every rock pool and returning with a suspicious amount of sand attached to their fur, The Ship Inn is waiting just a short wander away.
This cosy pub and brewery has a beer garden that suits summer down to the ground, with sea air drifting in and walkers dropping anchor for the afternoon. It has that pleasantly scruffy, post-adventure atmosphere where nobody minds a wet nose nudging under the table.
The Drummond Arms, Albury, Surrey
The Surrey Hills are full of walking routes that start with good intentions and somehow end with lunch. Funny how that happens. The Drummond Arms sits in postcard-worthy Albury village and feels made for stretching out a summer afternoon.
Start with woodland walks and rolling countryside, then swap muddy paths for a spot in the garden while your dog settles into their next important task, which is doing absolutely nothing. It's peaceful without feeling sleepy, polished without trying too hard, and exactly the sort of place where one drink often becomes two.
The Ram Inn, Firle, East Sussex
Long walks on the South Downs have a habit of making everyone hungry, including the four-legged members of the group. Sitting in the village of Firle beneath those sweeping hills, The Ram Inn is perfectly placed for rewarding all that effort.
Nearby routes mean dogs can burn off energy before collapsing happily at your feet, while the beer garden handles lazy summer afternoons very well indeed. This isn't somewhere for rushing in and out. It feels more like the place where walking boots stay on a little longer and plans for the rest of the day quietly disappear.
The Old Coastguard, Mousehole, Cornwall
Cornwall and dogs make a fairly unbeatable team. Add sea views and a summer beer garden, and things get even better. Sitting above Mousehole harbour, The Old Coastguard has one of those settings that immediately slows everything down.
Coastal paths nearby provide plenty of opportunities for energetic dogs to race ahead and investigate every scent possible, before everyone reconvenes for food, drinks, and a well-earned sit down. There is always something to look at too, from boats drifting in the distance to dogs attempting to make new friends at neighbouring tables.
The Britannia Inn, Elterwater, Lake District
There are pubs that welcome walkers, and then there are pubs that practically expect you to arrive with tired legs and muddy boots. The Britannia Inn falls firmly into the second category.
Tucked away in Elterwater and surrounded by some of the Lake District's best scenery, it's exactly where you'll want to end up after a day outside. Dogs can spend the afternoon snoozing after lakeside walks and fell adventures, while you settle into the garden and admire the fact that someone else is doing the cooking for once. Everyone wins.
The Oyster Catcher, Rhosneigr, Anglesey
Beach days can be hard work. Chasing waves, digging holes for no obvious reason and launching into full-speed sprints takes commitment. Dogs understand this better than anyone.
Close to the sandy stretches around Rhosneigr, The Oyster Catcher makes an ideal pit stop after all that effort. Summer afternoons here are all about big skies, sea air and finding a spot in the garden where nobody is in any hurry to be somewhere else. Expect sandy paws, tired dogs and the familiar conversation about whether one more drink is a sensible idea.
The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, Scotland
Some places really know how to show off. Glencoe is one of them. Mountains rise around you in every direction, making even a short walk feel impressively dramatic. After exploring trails and stretching four legs properly, The Clachaig Inn is ready and waiting.
Known for looking after walkers and their dogs, it has an outdoor space where you can sit back and take in scenery that feels almost unfairly good-looking. Dogs will be asleep before you finish your drink, while humans can debate whether tomorrow's walk sounds exciting or just unnecessarily ambitious.
The Pandy Inn, Dorstone, Herefordshire
If your ideal summer afternoon involves fewer crowds and more countryside, Dorstone delivers nicely. Tucked into Herefordshire's Golden Valley, The Pandy Inn feels like somewhere you discover rather than somewhere you simply arrive at.
Walking routes nearby mean plenty of opportunities for furry friends to stretch their legs before finding a comfortable patch of shade in the garden. It has that easy-going countryside feel that doesn't need to shout about itself. No queues, no rush and no schedule beyond deciding whether it's too early to start thinking about dinner.
Found somewhere worth adding to your summer plans? Of course, there is another option. Why stop at borrowing somebody else's beer garden when you can have one of your own? Book one of our dog-friendly cottages with an enclosed garden, grab your favourite drinks and set up a private little suntrap for the weekend. No queues at the bar, no fighting for the best table and plenty of room for zoomies between rounds.
Meet the author
Ian LewisIan's worked in travel for over 15 years and has written about destinations across the whole of the UK (and beyond). He loves all kinds of getaways with every member of the family on two legs or four, seeking out the more unique and interesting properties wherever he can.
