Inn on the Square

Inn on the Square is one of the most thoroughly dog-friendly hotels in Keswick. Set right on the market square, it opens almost the whole building to dogs: 25 of its 34 rooms take them, and they are welcome in the front bar, the lounge and the back bar, so a dog can spend the evening with you rather than waiting upstairs. The Brossen Steakhouse is the only area they cannot go.

Dogs cost £25 per dog, per night, with up to two per room, and you should ask for a dog room when you book. Dog beds and bowls are available on request, and there is a hose and dry towels at the side entrance for muddy paws after a day on the fells.

The staff are the reason dog owners rave about the place. Dogs are brought a sausage at breakfast, often served with some ceremony, and owners on their first trip away with a new dog describe staff helping them settle it in. Guests travelling with dogs repeatedly call it the most dog-friendly hotel they have stayed in. Dogs eat with their owners in the lounge or front bar rather than the restaurant, though the low lounge seating makes for an awkward meal, and the front bar is more comfortable.

The location is ideal for a walking break. The square, the Saturday market and the cafes are on the doorstep, Derwentwater and the fells are close by, and there is paid parking at the hotel.

The flip side of so many dogs is noise. Guests, with and without dogs, mention barking at night, including dogs left alone in rooms, along with late bar noise and guests returning at all hours, which can unsettle an anxious dog. At busy times dogs fill the bar seating, which some guests without dogs dislike. Rooms run very warm, with fans provided, and several owners found the nightly dog charge steep for a single night.

For owners with a sociable, settled dog who want a central Keswick base where dogs are welcome almost everywhere, Inn on the Square earns a 4.5 out of 5 paw rating.