Abbots Mead Hotel

Abbots Mead Hotel sits in a quiet corner of central Shrewsbury, tucked behind St Julians Friars a couple of minutes from the River Severn, and it is one of those small town-centre hotels where a dog is treated as a guest rather than a complication. Guests travelling with dogs repeatedly describe being able to take their dog through the building without fuss, which is not something every hotel that calls itself dog-friendly actually delivers.

The practicalities are straightforward. Dogs need to be arranged in advance rather than simply turning up with one, there is a charge of £10 per dog per night, and the property limits it to one dog per room. That rules out anyone travelling with a pair, but it does mean the hotel is not overrun and the arrangement is clear before you arrive.

Breakfast comes in for consistent praise and so does the welcome, with dog owners mentioning small gestures such as a sausage arriving for the dog alongside their own cooked breakfast. There is a bar, a garden and parking on site, though the car park is small; the public car park opposite is free overnight. One thing worth flagging is the stairs. The building is old and the staircases are steep, which guests with older or larger dogs found genuinely awkward, and it is the single most useful thing to know before booking.

Location is the strongest card. The Severn is a two-minute walk, so morning and evening walks along the riverside greens are easy, and the town's shops, cafes and restaurants are all within strolling distance. Abbots Mead earns a 4.5/5 paw rating, and it suits dog owners who want a compact, central Shrewsbury base with the river on the doorstep, provided their dog is comfortable on steep stairs and travelling on its own rather than with a companion.