Business

Home away from home for the dog in your life

By Andrew Diprose Editor, Dorsetbiznews.co.uk

A SHERBORNE hotel has won the title ‘Charming Canine Cottage’ in PetsPyjamas’ 2022 Dog-Friendly Travel Awards.

The Cottage at The Eastbury Hotel & Spa was described as a wonderful home-from-home experience by judges of the competition.

It was chosen from PetsPyjamas’ extensive portfolio of dog-friendly hotels, cottages, country houses and B&Bs in the UK and abroad.

The Cottage was one of 13 winning properties where a dog – and their lucky human – can enjoy a getaway.

Judged in-line with PetsPyjamas’ gold-standard of dog-friendliness, the awards consider a property’s ability to offer: n Dog-loving atmosphere and staff at all times n Three or more dog-friendly rooms available to book n Four-legged access to some of the property’s communal areas n Ability to dine with their owners with special pet menus being a bonus n Dog facilities and provisions such as a bed, bowls and treats in the property n Nearby dog-friendly attractions such as doggy walks or a dog-friendly beach.

The Cottage at The Eastbury Hotel & Spa impressed PetsPyjamas judges due to its lovely character, dating back to the 17th century.

Featuring a sitting room with an Inglenook wood-burning fireplace, dining room, kitchen, three double en-suite bedrooms and alfresco dining terrace, plus a pretty enclosed garden for off-lead pottering, it was highlighted as a wonderful

The Cottage at The Eastbury Hotel & Spa in Sherborne features a sitting room with an Inglenook woodburning fireplace, dining room, kitchen, three double en-suite bedrooms and alfresco dining terrace

home-from-home experience.

Judges also recognised the benefit of access to the wider hotel facilities including a 2AA Rosette Seasons Restaurant with doggie meals expertly prepared in the kitchen and the spa, as well as access to the nearby historic main streets of Sherborne and the Dorset countryside.

Gemma Wells, hotel manager at The Eastbury Hotel & Spa, said: “We are thrilled to have won the ‘PetsPyjamas Charming Canine Cottage’ of the year.

“Our Eastbury Cottage is extremely dog-friendly and we love having furry friends staying with us.”

James Williams, PetsPyjamas managing director, said: “Taking your dog away to somewhere they are welcomed is very much the norm nowadays.

“This feels like miles away from when we first started working with the hospitality industry in 2014, trying to switch their stance from merely dog tolerant to truly dog welcoming.

“Leading the pack in the best in dog friendly holidays ever since, we always strive to offer something for everyone and every dog – and our annual awards shine a spotlight on the properties offering our most in demand kind of break.

“With all our brilliant winners, dogs have all the ammo they need to pet, set, GO in 2023 and we congratulate The Eastbury Hotel & Spa on its place in the awards.”