Pet Friendly Devon with Kate Lawler

by K9 Magazine

Welcome to the next instalment of our pet friendly travel feature with the lovely Kate Lawler and her two dogs, Baxter and Kevin. Over the next few issues we will be taking Kate, Baxter and Kevin on a tour of different pet friendly hotels and areas across the UK. This issue we travel to Devon!

Meet Kate…
I’m on a mission to find the best Dog Friendly accommodation in Great Britain. As the owner of two dogs, I’m on a mission to discover the best Pet Friendly Accommodation in Britain. My next review is for Kitley House Country Hotel in South Devon not far from Plymouth.

It’s a uniquely historic building set in a private rural estate on the banks of the River Yealm. We began our journey as usual from Birmingham so it was a pretty straightforward journey down the M5. To break up the 3 hour road trip we stopped off an hour outside of Yealmpton (where Kitley House is) at a lovely little seaside town called Dawlish. The beach was wonderful for the dogs. Kevin and Baxter stretched their legs for about an hour, having a splash in the sea and a sprint on the sand.

Kate, Baxter and Kevin

Upon arrival at Kitley House Hotel, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and you immediately notice just how peaceful and quiet it is. The views are breathtaking from every point outside the stunning country house. From the flowing river and the immaculately kept gardens, to sheep snoozing in wide open fields next door. I’m already impressed with just how much space there is for dogs here.

The interior of the country house is as you’d imagine. Very classic, traditional, perhaps in need of a lick of paint but on the whole, what you’d expect from a building that is over 500 years old.  What I’m suprised at the most is just how few rooms and suites there are, somehow I imagined there to be a lot more but I’ll always prefer a hotel with fewer guest rooms as it’s more relaxing so that was an added bonus.

As we make our way to ‘Reynolds Suite’ we pass a huge dining room where breakfast and evening meals are served.  An informal bar and lounge is just next door which leads out to a balcony terrace overlooking stunning gardens.  It is here where many people are enjoying ‘afternoon cream teas’ which look delicious!
We are just one floor up from reception which is extremely handy as we don’t have far to walk at all to take Baxter and Kevin out for toilet time. The view is what makes our room, it is simply stunning. We are overlooking the South Devon rural estate which is popular with walkers, bird lovers and dog owners. The room is spacious and comfortable. Bags of doggy biscuits for the boys were a nice suprise upon arrival as well as a couple of books dedicated to Dog Friendly Walks in the area. A nice touch.

Kitley House Hotel

The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, it goes without question. Once we’d unpacked and settled in our room, it was time to try out an ‘afternoon cream tea’. If you’re going to Kitley House, I’d highly recommend trying one.  I was in clotted cream heaven!  We decided to walk off the scones and jam by taking Baxter and Kevin on a sunshine stroll through the rural estate. It goes on for miles and because of the beautiful weather, we stayed out for a good hour. The boys loved sniffing the ground, chasing pheasants, rabbits, whatever they could!

The dogs were shattered when we got back to our room about 5pm so we freshened up with a shower and change of clothes then booked a taxi to take us to Plymouth which was just 10 minutes away by car. We ate in a gorgeous Thai restaurant and came home for an early night. The next morning we woke in time for breakfast, served in a very bright and airy dining room.  I opted for smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on a toasted crumpet.  Incredible choice.  The full english breakfast my boyfriend, Adam, had was nice although he suggested Kitley House try finding a local farmer for ingredients for local thick cut sausages.

Around mid-morning we drove to Bovisand Bay with Baxter and Kevin. Luckily for us, the weather was amazing and it only took 15 minutes by car. We parked up and walked down to a small but very picturesque beach where people were sunbathing and walking their dogs. The boys met a little parson terrier named Buddy who was deaf but delightful. They played for ages and when we got back to Kitley House around lunch time we found a little sun trap in the garden, ordered some food and let Baxter and Kevin sleep in the shade. Our meals were delicious. Try the fish finger bap! Not your average fish finger bap. Divine.

A couple arrived that afternoon and were staying with their gorgeous Border Terrier Ruffie. She was one of the most beautiful Border Terriers I’ve ever seen. We drank Pimms and let the dogs play together until they were worn out and the sun went down. As it was Saturday evening, Adam and I went to Plymouth again as there are so many fantastic restaurants there. We ate at Zucca, an Italian which was lovely.  When we arrived back at Kitley House, we took Baxter and Kevin out to relieve themselves and sat in the bar downstairs with other guests of the hotel and their dogs.

There was a Murder Mystery Evening happening adjacent to the bar and lounge we were sat in. It sounded like great fun, very lively and entertaining.  Guests of the hotel are welcome to book at reception for the Murder Mystery which was attended mainly by guests who came to Kitley House specifically for the Murder Mystery night.  The evening also includes a 3-course meal. Baxter chose a brilliant moment to gate crash the room where around 100 people were eating and playing the game. As mortified as I was, my boyfriend Adam ran in after Baxter shouting ‘He didn’t kill anyone!’ which lightened the mood of a dog running under peoples tables and licking their legs!

We left the hotel on Sunday around 11am and I’m sure it won’t be the last time as it was definitely our favourite stay so far for K9 Magazine. Kitley House Hotel is an ideal base for exploring South West England, Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall during a short break or as a longer holiday. Make sure you go any time during Spring or Summer too as the weather really made it that much more enjoyable.

All in all a magnificent weekend! 

See you next time…..

Pet Friendly Manchester with Kate Lawler

Welcome to the next instalment of our pet friendly travel feature with the lovely Kate Lawler and her two dogs, Baxter and Kevin. Over the next few issues we will be taking Kate, Baxter and Kevin on a tour of different pet friendly hotels and areas across the UK. This issue we travel to Manchester!

Meet Kate…
I’m on a mission to find the best Dog Friendly accommodation in Great Britain.
So far my travels have taken me to Brighton and Essex. The next stop is Manchester. I love this city, for many reasons. It has great restaurants, wonderful night life, but most of all the people are lovely. The journey with my boyfriend and two beloved pet pooches, Baxter and Kevin began in Birmingham.

We had a stress-free 90 minute journey and arrived in Manchester around 2pm on Saturday afternoon. We decided to head straight to Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, a suburban area of Manchester before heading onto The Malmaison Hotel where we were to enjoy our pet friendly stay.

Chorlton is about 4 miles from the city centre and takes around 11 minutes by car to get to from Manchester Piccadilly Train Station. After spending 4 hours there I’m completely in love with Chorlton.

We ate in The Horse & Jockey Inn, a dog-friendly pub that serves the most delicious roast pork, stuffing and apple sauce baked french bread with home-made french fries! I wanted another… The pub staff welcomed Baxter and Kevin with open arms, gave the doggies lots of fuss, and treats! They even served ‘Dog Beer’ behind the bar which I found hilarious. The dogs drank all of it! We then went for a walk in the meadows where we met my friend Amy and the dog she rescued 4 months ago.

His name is Lebowski. Baxter, Kevin and Bowski ran and played for a good hour on the meadows then Amy walked us all to a new Pet Boutique that had opened not far from The Horse & Jockey Inn. The boutique was called Betty & Butch and opened in November 2011. It was fabulous. I bought Kevin a new really good quality coat for just £14.99, he looked so smart when I tried it on him. After shopping for dog coats, sprays and treats we walked to The Parlour, another dog-friendly pub. It was gorgeous inside. Apparently they serve award-winning Sunday Lunches but unfortunately we couldn’t go back on the Sunday as we had to get back to Birmingham. We enjoyed a nice glass of wine and met lots of people in the pub with their dogs too.

We arrived at The Malmaison Hotel, about 6:30pm and for those who have never been, I can only describe it as a luxury boutique gem! The moment we arrived, the staff were happy and helpful. In our room, we had a living area section, as well as the bedroom area and a gorgeous modern bathroom. Out in the living area, next to the L-Shaped Sofa, were two doggy beds, bowls and treats for Baxter and Kevin. We dined downstairs around 8pm in the ‘Smoak Bar & Grill’ which is the hotels superb restaurant. The service was 10 out of 10.

The staff were extremely well mannered and well informed. The food was better than some five star restaurants I’ve eaten in. We had a really enjoyable meal, the restaurant was very busy with a really cool vibe and situated next to it was a bar with people enjoying drinks before and after their meals. We headed straight to bed after dinner and had the most amazing night sleep. The bed was HUGE and really comfortable. Having black-out curtains meant we slept for almost 9 hours (a long time for Adam my boyfriend and I).

The next morning we were up, showered and out of the hotel by 11am, not before a delicious and mouth-watering breakfast though. A wide range of choices at Breakfast is what makes a hotel stay super enjoyable for me and The Malmaison makes sure that every area is covered. If you’re trying to be healthy, you’ve fresh fruits, yoghurts, cereals and juices to choose from. For those who like to indulge on carbs (like myself) there are croissants, muffins and danish pastries aplenty! I chose Porridge from the menu with honey and I ate every mouthful. We shared a croissant, a blueberry muffin and Adam my partner had an omelette too. Inevitably we both got food envy when the couple next to us were handed a full english breakfast and eggs benedict! I know for next time to order something a little more hearty.

Everything about The Malmaison I love and so I’d give it a 9 out of 10. The only reason I didn’t give it 10 out of 10 is because we were put on the 3rd floor, and whenever we wanted to take Baxter and Kevin out for ‘pee pees & poo poo’s’ we had to go down in a lift and then once we were outside, it was city centre as you would imagine i.e. concrete pavements and roads, traffic and lack of parks. Having nowhere to let the boys off their leads or go do their business (Baxter will only go on grass!) was a bit of a hindrance. Maybe if the Malmaison had a small patio or garden area within the hotel grounds it would have been nice for the doggies to go out and have a sniff, a wee, and a walk around with the leads on.

Other than that our stay was wonderful and the doggies had an amazing time too. I was shocked to discover that a city centre boutique hotel like The Malmaison was pet friendly. I doubt a lot of people knew this either but if you’re planning on going to Manchester and you can’t bare to be apart from your four legged friend, then head to The Malmaison and they can enjoy the trip too!


See you next time…..


Article by Kate Lawler for K9 Magazine

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Other articles of interest:

Pet Friendly Brighton with Kate Lawler
Pet Friendly Hertfordshire with Kate Lawler

Pet Friendly Hertfordshire with Kate Lawler

Welcome to the next instalment of our pet friendly travel feature with the lovely Kate Lawler and her two dogs, Baxter and Kevin. Over the next few issues we will be taking Kate, Baxter and Kevin on a tour of different pet friendly hotels and areas across the UK. This issue we travel to the Hertfordshire/Essex border.

Meet Kate…

My first pet friendly review was a beach-front boutique hotel in Brighton and this month, it’s a completely different experience.

If historic buildings, beautiful gardens and classically ‘British’ breaks take your fancy then you’ll want to visit Down Hall Country House Hotel. It’s around 45 minutes from Central London in Hatfield Heath, on the Hertfordshire and Essex border. It’s also ideally near London Stansted Airport. Down Hall is one of the AA’s leading pet friendly hotels and it’s easy to see why. My boyfriend Adam, and our Border Terrier – Baxter, and I are staying for 2 days and 1 night. Kevin our other dog is boarding with friends at their home, recovering after an operation.

The three of us arrive at around midday. The grandeur, elegance and character of Down Hall are instantly recognisable upon arrival. After a slow drive down a wide gravelly private road, admiring the stunning gardens, we pull up outside the most gorgeous victorian country house. It’s very impressive. I almost feel like I’m at Buckingham Palace! Baxter jumps out of the car, sniffs around and stretches his legs after a two and a half hour drive from Birmingham…..

We are greeted by two extremely friendly members of staff at reception. Unfortunately Baxter decides to pee on the carpet as we’re checking in. It’s not just a little pee either. A very embarrassing start to the weekend but the staff were absolutely fine about it, to the point that they found it funny (luckily!).

It’s quite a long walk to our room, recognising instantly what a big hotel Down Hall is. As we pass the restaurant, the smell of delicious food being cooked is extremely inviting. Our room is lovely, spacious, comfortable, and very classic in design. Pet owners you’ll love the pooch welcome pack if you enjoy spoiling your beloved four legged friend. Waiting for Baxter was a dog bowl, with treats, a chewbone, a welcome card with do’s and don’ts on, wrapped in a big bow. Nice touch.

What I love the most is that our room has french doors that open with views to a beautifully landscaped garden. As a dog owner, this makes life incredibly easy as we can let Baxter out to do his business without having to walk all the way through the hotel and exit through reception. Once the doors were open and Baxter was taking advantage of the enormous well-maintained gardens, running free, sniffing the ground, going to the toilet and sprinting back for a Down Hall doggy treat. We notice the hotel has put other dog owners on the ground floor, in the double rooms that also have the doors leading out to the garden. Very thoughtful, thumbs up to Down Hall.

After a long walk in the beautiful grounds, my boyfriend and I took advantage of the Cream Tea served in a historic lounge in front of a roaring log fire. This is my ideal afternoon, and because it’s a pet friendly hotel, Baxter was able to chill out with us which really makes a difference when you’re staying in a hotel. He got a lot of attention from others staying at the hotel and lapped it up as usual! We decided to have a siesta before heading out to a gorgeous country pub just a five minute drive from the hotel. It is called The White Horse Inn and served the most incredible steak and stout pie, mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy, not forgetting a superb chocolate fudge cake with cream. Reasonably priced and a warm welcoming atmosphere inside.

It’s now time for bed, very early which is rare for us on a Saturday Night!

Sunday morning and we’ve had the most amazing night sleep. Extremely comfortable mattress and because of the black out curtains, we slept for longer than usual! Baxter finishes off his doggy treats provided by the hotel, has a little run around the garden, it’s a gorgeous day so we decide to take him for a long walk and find out that 110 acres of woodland, parkland and gardens surround the hotel. Perfect for dog walking! Before we take Baxter out we indulge in a hearty Full English Breakfast which is huge! Good coffee too.

On our 2 hour walk through the woodland, Baxter had the time of his life. Not only did he chase squirrels and meet other doggies but he came in to contact with 2 Alpacas!! They were amazing. Adam and I had never met Alpacas before either and a sign next to them said ‘Warning! The Alpacas may spit!’ We ignored the warning and got spat at which wasn’t very nice but we laughed about it afterwards! I think Baxter was a little scared of them after that.

We didn’t want to leave Down Hall it was a short but perfect break and as far as Pet Friendly Hotels go, it’s up there with the best. Whether you’re looking for a secluded romantic break or a gigantic lavish wedding, it’s a gorgeous venue, very impressive, and most importantly it’s PET FRIENDLY!  Being located to a major airport is handy, and only 45 minutes outside of central London an added bonus. With rooms starting at just £89 you cannot go wrong. Top marks for Down Hall Country House Hotel.

Posted by K9 Magazine 




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