Timrick Lodge

Timrick Lodge is a small owner-run guesthouse on Lennox Street in Weymouth, a few minutes' walk from the seafront and the town centre. Dogs are taken on without fuss here, and the welcome at the door is the thing guests travelling with them mention most: the owner treats the dog as part of the booking rather than as something to be tolerated, and early arrivals have been let into the room ahead of time when a dog has been in the car for a few hours.

There is no published pet policy on the property's booking listing - no posted fee, no size or breed limits, no stated maximum number of dogs. The terms are set at the booking stage rather than read off a page, so agree the supplement, the room and any limits with the owner directly when you book. Guests with small and medium dogs report being accepted without difficulty, and the family room with its own terrace comes up as the one that works best with a dog in tow.

The location does most of the work. Weymouth's esplanade is a short walk away and the South West Coast Path runs through the town, so morning and evening walks are easy to fit in. The lodge sits towards the far end of town from the stretch of beach where dogs are allowed, though, so build in a longer walk or a short drive if the beach is the daily destination.

Two practical caveats are worth weighing. There is no on-site parking and the nearest car park is an eight to ten minute walk, which is more of a nuisance with a dog and luggage than without. And housekeeping is the recurring complaint across the wider review pool rather than anything pet-specific: small bathrooms that could be cleaner, mould around the shower, tired furnishings and a noisy toilet pump all come up, and the outdoor terrace that dog owners find so useful has been described as grubby. Rooms near reception are noisy, and dogs in the room above have been heard through the ceiling.

It suits couples and small families on a budget break in Weymouth with one small or medium dog, who want a friendly owner-run base close to the sea and do not mind sorting the pet arrangement by phone or email first. Guests who need parking at the door, or who want a freshly refurbished room, will be better served elsewhere. Timrick Lodge earns a 4.1/5 paw rating.