Milsoms, Dedham

Milsoms is a smart country hotel and restaurant on the edge of Dedham in Constable Country, with a woodland path leading straight into the village and riverside walks beyond, which is a big draw for dog owners. Staff and food get good reviews, but guests who have stayed with dogs paint a more mixed picture of the rooms they were given, and it earns a modest 3.5/5 paw rating.

A selection of rooms are set aside as dog friendly, so say you are bringing a dog when you book. There is a charge of £35 per dog, added at booking or at check-in. Dogs are not allowed in the main restaurant, but there are designated areas where you can eat with your dog.

The recurring complaint is the dog-friendly rooms themselves. Several guests with dogs felt they had been given some of the least desirable rooms in the hotel: next to the bin store, opposite the restaurant corridor with late-night comings and goings, or beneath rooms with creaking wooden floors. Rooms are often described as small, stuffy and hot, with windows that do not open, and traffic noise from the nearby A12 carries. Some guests also felt the dog charge bought very little, with no bowls or treats in the room, and the charge has been refunded after complaints. Eating outside with a dog is fine in warm weather, but it is less clear what is on offer when it is cold. Dogs barking in neighbouring rooms have also kept other guests awake.

Milsoms suits dog owners who prioritise the setting, the food and easy walks into Dedham, and who are happy to ask about the room when booking. Anyone wanting a quiet, spacious room with their dog may find better value elsewhere.