The Fleet Inn

The Fleet Inn is the kind of riverside pub with rooms that makes travelling with a dog easy. It sits right on the River Avon at Twyning, a few miles north of Tewkesbury, and dogs are welcome both in the rooms and around the inn. Guests travelling with dogs describe the rooms as stylish and clean, the welcome as warm for owners and dogs alike, and the whole place as properly dog friendly rather than merely tolerant, which is reflected in its 4.5/5 paw rating.

The setting does a lot of the work. You can step out of the door and straight onto a riverside walk, and dog owners regularly mention an evening stroll along the water and eating outside with the dog beside them on the terrace. Staff get consistent praise for being friendly and attentive, and the food, breakfast in particular, is well liked, if a little pricey.

Its position close to the M5 also makes it a popular overnight stop on longer drives, and several dog owners use it as a regular halfway break. Parking is easy, though the approach catches people out: follow the sat nav blindly and you can end up on the wrong side of the river with a long drive round, so check the route before the last few miles.

There are a few things to know. Food is not served every day, so check kitchen hours if you are arriving on a Sunday. Some rooms are on the small side and not every room has been updated, with guests noting thin walls, a lack of storage, and bathrooms showing wear in places. Breakfast service has drawn the odd complaint too. The hotel has not published any pet fee or dog limits, so confirm those when you book.

For a dog owner who wants a relaxed night by the river with a good pub downstairs and a walk on the doorstep, The Fleet Inn is an easy choice, and it works especially well as a stopover on the way somewhere else.