The Tom O’The Wood in Rowington, Warwickshire, has earned the prestigious title of the Best Dog-Friendly Pub in the West Midlands. That’s according to Rover.com, the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care and its expert Public House Officer, who embarked on the ‘Great British Pub Crawl’ - meticulously reviewing more than 110 pubs across the country.

Leading the pack among pubs in its region, The Tom O’The Wood, stood out as a true pooch paradise. With a dedicated doggy menu, tasty treats, and plenty of fresh water, pups are welcomed with open arms by proud, friendly staff. Add a great outdoor space and a warm, chatty atmosphere, and this pub is one of the nation’s ulti-mutt destinations for dogs and their owners.

Also highly commended for its proactive pup-pleasing efforts in this region was The Old Mill in Baginton, Coventry - which secured the runner-up spot - helping to raise the bar-k for dog-friendly establishments across the UK.

Rover’s reviewer judged pubs on a range of factors, including their booking systems, pup accessibility, welcoming atmosphere, staff communication, canine facilities, pet safety, and the overall experience for their pooch – leaving no bone unturned.

With dog ownership on the rise, Rover’s new research shows these warm, waggy spaces could be key to keeping the UK’s pub culture alive - and the impact could be paws-itively huge. In fact, over a quarter (30%) of dog owners say they’d happily spend more if it meant their four-legged friend was by their side – an extra £4.26 per pint on average.  Nearly half (45%) admit they’d go out more often if their pup could tag along, and 34% even confess that their dog enjoys the pub just as much as they do! 

And it’s not just about spending – dogs also help make pubs more sociable. Six in ten pub-goers (61%) say spotting a dog in a pub has sparked a conversation with a stranger, while 78% agree pups boost the overall vibe. In fact, 65% even prefer the company of canines over kids when enjoying their local.

So, it’s no surprise therefore that three quarters of Brits (78%) say they’d love every pub to welcome dogs, yet despite the demand, almost a third (31%) still struggle to sniff out dog-friendly pubs.

Adem Fehmi, Rover’s Canine Behaviourist expert comments: “Our scoring criteria looks at everything from safety and comfort to staff knowledge and atmosphere. The very best dog-friendly pubs create a calm, secure environment where dogs can truly relax, showing exactly what best-in-class hospitality should look like. What’s great is that every pub has the opportunity to do the same – by thinking carefully about dogs’ needs, they can make visits more enjoyable for everyone and turn first-time guests into returning customers.”

Luke James, Rover’s Public House Officer comments: “After visiting dog-friendly pubs all over the country this summer, a few really stood out above the rest. These were the places where pups weren’t just welcomed, but truly celebrated – with thoughtful touches that made both dogs and their humans feel right at home.”

For more suggestions of dog-friendly pubs across the UK, visit the website.