Best Western Heath Court Hotel

Best Western Heath Court is a comfortable, unfussy three-star hotel on Moulton Road in Newmarket, and it is a good deal friendlier to dogs than its chain name might suggest. Dogs stay in designated dog-friendly rooms, and guests who travel with them describe a welcome that starts at reception and carries on through the stay.

The rules are simple. Dogs can go almost anywhere in the hotel with their owners, but not into the main restaurant. That is less of a problem than it sounds, because meals can be taken in the bar, which guests with dogs found comfortable and well furnished, and breakfast can be eaten just outside the restaurant in the same space. One owner only learned about the restaurant rule after walking in for breakfast, so it is worth asking at check-in where your dog can sit.

The staff are the real draw. Owners say their dogs were fussed over from the moment they arrived, and one first-timer who was nervous about bringing a young dog to a hotel found the worry evaporated at the front desk. The night team are relaxed about very early toilet trips outside, which matters if your dog keeps its own hours. The rooms help too: the dog-friendly ones guests mention were roomy enough for a dog bed with space to spare, with air conditioning that earned its keep in hot weather and a large bathroom.

Location is a strong point. The hotel sits at the foot of the Warren Hill gallops, a short walk from the High Street, so mornings can start with a stroll up to watch the racehorses being exercised. Keep a dog on a short lead around the horses and the training traffic on the road outside.

There are a few drawbacks. Parking can be tight at busy times, breakfast is on the expensive side, and some rooms feel dated. Owners booking through a travel agent pay a nightly pet fee, while booking direct avoids it.

For a dog owner coming to Newmarket for the racing, or simply passing through, it is an easy and genuinely welcoming base.