The Waves B&B, Birchington

The Waves is a four-star bed and breakfast on Hengist Road in Birchington, facing Minnis Bay at the western end of the Thanet coast. It is a seaside house in the literal sense: the beach is across the road, the Viking Coastal Trail passes the door, and there is parking on the site, which along this stretch of the Kent coast is worth having.

Among dog-friendly places on this coast, The Waves sits at the committed end of the scale. The owners keep several dogs of their own and local dog walkers use the place, so a dog arriving is completely unremarkable, and guests travelling with one consistently describe somewhere dogs are actively wanted rather than quietly tolerated. The setting backs that up: Minnis Bay beach and the coastal trail are both dog friendly, so a dog gets a proper walk straight from the door instead of a drive first. The flip side is worth saying plainly - a house with several resident dogs and a steady stream of local ones is the wrong choice for a dog that is uneasy in company.

The policy is clear and worth knowing before booking. Up to two dogs share a room at £5 per dog per night, and a larger party can sometimes be accommodated if it is agreed in advance rather than sprung on arrival. Rooms vary in size, and the smallest is genuinely snug, working better for one person and a small dog than for a couple with a larger one. Bathrooms have drawn the occasional comment about wanting a little attention.

Best suited to dog owners who want the beach and a real coastal walk on the doorstep, and who would rather stay somewhere that treats a dog as normal than somewhere that merely permits one.