The Sandbanks, Barmouth

The Sandbanks sits on Marine Parade in Barmouth, directly across from the sand dunes and the beach, and it is one of the more straightforwardly dog-inclusive seafront hotels on this stretch of the Welsh coast. Dogs are not confined to the room: guests travelling with pets are able to bring them into the bar and the guest lounge, which is unusual enough in a hotel of this size to be the main reason to book it. The restaurant is the one indoor space they are kept out of.

Staff are the other consistent theme. Guests with dogs describe the team as friendly, knowledgeable about the area and genuinely accommodating about pets rather than grudging. The location does the rest: the beach is a few steps away, the town centre and the station are a short walk, and there is easy access to walks in both directions along the front.

Be clear-eyed about the building. This is an older, basic seafront hotel and it shows. Guests regularly note worn carpets, tired bathrooms and rooms that would benefit from refurbishment. Most feel that is reflected in the price, and rooms are described as clean and comfortable with good sea views, but anyone expecting a recently refitted hotel will be disappointed. Rooms vary in size and condition, and guests have been moved on request when the first room allocated did not suit.

One thing cuts both ways. The freedom dogs have in the bar and the lounge is what makes this a good choice for dog owners, and it is also what a minority of guests without dogs object to, with complaints that dogs are given a lot of latitude in the spaces where drinks and food are served. If your dog is not settled around other people and other dogs at close quarters in a busy bar, that same openness is worth thinking about before you book.

Best suited to dog owners who want a beachfront base in Barmouth and would rather have their dog beside them in the bar than shut in a room, and who are relaxed about a dated hotel. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.