Harper's Steakhouse with Rooms, Haslemere

Harper's in Haslemere is a steakhouse first and an inn second, but it takes dogs more seriously than most places of its kind. A set of its bedrooms is kept for guests travelling with dogs, and those stays come as a package: a dog bed, a blanket, a bowl and a box of treats waiting in the room. Up to two dogs can share a room, at £20 each per night.

Guests who brought their dogs keep the praise short and consistent. They call it very dog friendly, and one couple's dog clearly enjoyed the visit enough that they were already planning to come back the following month. The staff get as much credit as the welcome for dogs: guests describe them as friendly and helpful, and quick to sort out small problems in the rooms.

The rooms themselves are a strong point. They have been refurbished, with comfortable beds, air conditioning, a fridge with fresh milk, good tea and coffee and homemade shortbread. Some of the dog-friendly rooms open onto a small patio with a table and chairs, which is handy when a dog needs to step outside. The building is old and a little rambling inside, and there is no proper reception desk; check-in happens in the restaurant.

The location works well with a dog. Harper's sits on Lower Street, opposite the railway station, and the town centre with its shops and pubs is about a ten-minute walk away. There is a car park on site.

Dogs are not allowed in the bar or the restaurant, so dinner downstairs means leaving yours in the room, which matters at a place whose main draw is its food. One guest without a dog noticed a lingering smell of dog in a dog-friendly room and felt the carpet there needed replacing. The car park fills up on busy evenings, and a few rooms sit near the kitchen extractor.

For a night or two in Haslemere with one or two well-settled dogs, especially if you are arriving by train, it is a comfortable and good-value base.