Prestleigh Inn, Evercreech

The Prestleigh Inn is a roadside inn in the Somerset hamlet of Prestleigh, on the A371 between Shepton Mallet and Evercreech, and its single best feature for a dog owner is out the back: a large field, directly behind the building, that guests use for walking their dogs. Several parties travelling with dogs mention it as the reason the stay worked, along with a big car park that makes arriving with a dog and a boot full of kit straightforward.

Dogs are welcome in the bar as well as the bedrooms, and guests with dogs have eaten downstairs in the pub in the evening without difficulty - a real convenience if you would rather not leave a dog alone in an unfamiliar room. The landlady is described repeatedly as warm and attentive, and that comes through especially strongly in reviews from dog owners. The rooms are quieter than a main-road location suggests, and the beds draw consistent praise for comfort.

It is only fair to say that this property divides opinion sharply, and the split does not follow the dog question. Guests travelling with dogs have been consistently positive; the harshest reviews come from guests unhappy with the rooms and the catering. Recurring complaints cover dated decor and bedding, a lack of wardrobe or storage space, rooms that did not match what was booked, problems with the hot water, and a cooking smell reaching the bedrooms from the bar. The food and drink range is narrow - a short fried menu and a limited bar - which is worth checking before you plan on eating in.

There are no blackout curtains, so bring an eye mask in summer. Best suited to someone touring Somerset with a dog who wants an affordable, friendly, unfussy overnight with proper walking space attached, and who will not mind a dated room; anyone expecting a polished gastropub should look elsewhere. It earns a 4.5 out of 5 paw rating from the guests who stayed with dogs.