Alma Inn & Dining Rooms, Harwich

The Alma Inn is a sixteenth-century inn on Kings Head Street in old Harwich, a couple of minutes from the harbour front, and it is one of the better dog-friendly stops on this stretch of the Essex coast. Much of that comes down to one thing: dogs are welcome well beyond the bedroom. Guests travelling with dogs report bringing them through to both dinner and breakfast rather than eating in shifts or upstairs in the room, which is unusual in a place that takes its food as seriously as this one does.

That matters especially here because of the ferry. Harwich International is a short drive away, and a good share of guests are breaking a journey to or from the Netherlands with animals in the car. The staff are used to it, and parties arriving late with more than one dog have been accommodated without fuss.

The building itself is the other draw: a restored old tavern full of beams, low doorways and character, with a proper pub downstairs. Dogs generally do well in a room like that, with hard floors underfoot, plenty of comings and goings to get used to and no long hotel corridors to walk.

The main caveat is physical. It is a very old building and the staircases are steep and narrow. Guests find them hard work with luggage, and they would be a real obstacle for an elderly or large dog that cannot manage stairs. There is no lift, so ask what is available at ground level if that applies to your dog.

The inn does not publish a set pet charge or dog limit, so confirm numbers when you book.

Best suited to ferry travellers and coastal walkers with a mobile dog who want to eat properly without leaving it upstairs.