The Victoria Hotel

The Victoria Hotel is a big Victorian building on Front Street, in the middle of Bamburgh village, and dogs are part of everyday life here. The bar and lounge fill up with walkers and their dogs, dogs are welcome at breakfast, and the restaurant is kept dog-free for anyone who would rather eat away from them. Dogs pay £10 a night each, and they can stay in most rooms but not the Luxury Doubles.

Guests with dogs speak warmly of the staff. Owners of an elderly dog said nothing was too much trouble, and regulars who come back every year mention their dogs getting plenty of fuss. Over Christmas, rooms were set up with dog treats alongside the chocolates. Not every stay goes that smoothly, though. A few dog owners ran into short-tempered service in the bar and at breakfast, including being told off in front of other diners over how breakfast works.

The location is hard to fault. The beach is about five minutes' walk away, the castle is close by, and the village is small enough to walk everywhere. Parking is in a car park roughly 100 metres from the door.

The building causes the real problems. There is no lift, and many rooms are up several flights of stairs, some in the attic. That is a nuisance when a dog needs to go out in a hurry, and hard work for anyone who struggles with steps. Some of the rooms are small and warm, which owners found cramped with a dog. If stairs matter, ask for a ground-floor room when you book, as guests who got one found it ideal with a dog.

The Victoria suits people who want a sociable village pub-hotel where their dog is welcome in the bar and the beach is a short walk away. It is less suited to anyone who needs step-free access or a roomy bedroom.