The Esplanade Hotel by Compass Hospitality

The Esplanade Hotel's strongest card for dog owners is where it stands: directly on Paignton's seafront, with the beach and the promenade across the road, so the first walk of the day is a few steps from the front door rather than a drive. Well-behaved dogs of any size are accepted, which matters if you travel with a larger breed and keep running into weight limits. It earns a 4.2 out of 5 paw rating.

Guests with dogs describe rooms with enough floor space for two people and a dog, comfortable beds and the straightforward fittings you would expect of a three-star seafront hotel. Dogs are not confined to the bedroom either: breakfast can be taken with the dog in the adjoining conservatory, which is a genuine convenience on a wet morning. It is a base rather than a destination, and priced accordingly. The hotel has run promotions where the dog stays free, so it is worth asking what is current when you book; a pet charge may otherwise apply.

Paignton does the rest. The promenade runs a long way in both directions, the harbour and town centre are a short walk, and there are enough dog-friendly cafes nearby to be useful, which guests have found handy given that the hotel's own paid breakfast draws mixed opinions. Parking needs planning: the car park attached to the hotel is not the hotel's own, it is run by a private operator at a few pounds a day and open to anyone, so it fills quickly.

Set against all that, standards are not consistent. Housekeeping is the recurring complaint, and it lands squarely on dog owners in one specific way: separate guests have reported being given a room that smelled strongly of dog, one of them asking to be moved because of it. Rooms are clearly not always deep-cleaned between dog stays, which is worth knowing whether you are the party bringing the dog or the one following them in. Guests have also reported low water pressure, warm rooms with windows that barely open, and an overnight false fire alarm. The 4.2/5 paw rating reflects the dog welcome and the position rather than the finish. It suits owners who want the sea outside the door and a calm dog that copes with a busy resort front, and rather less anyone who needs a reliably immaculate room.