Beautiful Retro Flat Above Pub, Pilton

The Crown Inn sits on Conduit Square in Pilton, the Somerset village best known for the festival held on the fields above it, and the flat upstairs is one of the easier dog-friendly stays in this part of the county. Guests travelling with dogs describe the whole set-up as straightforwardly welcoming, from the greeting in the bar to the garden behind the pub, and the flat earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.

The flat itself is the surprise. Guests consistently say the photographs undersell it: a spacious, retro-decorated studio that is spotlessly clean, with a comfortable bed, thick towels and a properly equipped kitchen. Being above a working pub means the food is downstairs, and it earns strong marks in its own right, with good vegetarian and gluten-free options and a decent range of ales. There is private parking behind the building, which saves hunting for a space with a dog in the car.

For walking, Pilton is a small village with the restored tithe barn and open countryside a short distance from the door, so the short walks are easy without getting in the car at all. The location also works as a touring base, with Wells, Glastonbury, Bath and the Somerset Levels all within a comfortable drive.

Two things are worth knowing. The road runs directly past the front of the pub and it is busier than a village lane suggests, with tractors and lorries going through early in the morning; guests still report sleeping well, but a light sleeper or a jumpy dog may notice it. There is no air conditioning and the flat gets warm in a heatwave, though staff have found guests a fan when asked. Nothing is published about a pet fee or a limit on numbers, so agree both when you book.

Best suited to couples and small families touring Somerset who want good pub food downstairs and a dog that is welcome rather than merely allowed.