Mulberry Studio, Hawkhurst

Mulberry Studio is a one-room studio on Hensill Lane, just outside Hawkhurst in the Kentish Weald, and its selling point for dog owners is straightforward: a private, fully enclosed garden that belongs to the studio alone. Nobody else walks through it, the gate holds, and dogs can be let out at any hour without a lead, which is rare in a property this small.

The studio itself is set up for two people and a dog. It is nicely furnished, the bed gets consistent praise, and there is a compact kitchen area and shower room. The owners live close by and are noticeably keen to help, often sending suggestions for places to eat before guests arrive. Dog owners describe the whole thing as easy: park, unload, open the door to the garden, and settle in.

Location is the other strength. Hawkhurst village is a short drive, and the studio sits on a route that makes several of the south coast towns and the Kent and Sussex countryside straightforward day trips. It is a quiet spot, and guests routinely comment on how well they slept.

Two caveats are worth taking seriously, both raised by dog owners themselves. Cleanliness is inconsistent: dog hair left from previous stays on the garden lounger cushions and around the skirting boards, grimy kitchen cupboard fronts and bins not emptied have all been reported, alongside stays where guests found it spotless. And there is no hot water at the kitchen or bathroom taps, which is more of a nuisance than it sounds when you have muddy paws or dog bowls to wash. The shower room is also small.

With a 4.4/5 paw rating, Mulberry Studio suits a couple with a dog on a short break who value a private, secure garden above space indoors, and who will not mind giving the place a wipe over on arrival.