The Old Postie Bed & Breakfast

The Old Postie is a small, family-run bed and breakfast in Annesley, on the edge of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, with open views over fields and horses across the lane. It is the kind of place where dogs are welcomed into the house rather than merely tolerated, and guests who have brought one describe a relaxed, homely stay.

Dogs have been welcome to join their owners at breakfast as well as in the rooms, which makes a real difference if you would rather not leave your dog alone while you eat. The hosts have their own friendly resident dog, who is very much part of the atmosphere, so it suits dogs that are comfortable around other dogs. If you or your dog would rather keep apart, the owners will keep theirs out of the way on request.

Breakfast itself is a highlight: a cooked spread with locally sourced sausages and black pudding, homemade marmalade, and vegan and vegetarian options. Rooms are clean and comfortable, with Sky TV, and the owners strike a good balance between friendliness and leaving guests to it. For walks, there is woodland within about ten minutes on foot, and Newstead Abbey is close by.

The building is old, so the stairs are steep and sound carries between rooms, including the odd bark. Rooms facing the road can pick up early-morning commuter traffic, parking is limited and reversing out on the bend needs care, and the road surface by the parking area is easy to mistake for pavement. Some of the fields opposite have electric fences, so keep dogs on a lead there. There is no pub or shop within easy walking distance.

For a dog owner passing through Nottinghamshire who wants a proper breakfast with their dog beside them, The Old Postie earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.