Since writing this post in 2018 we have made a huge life-change and moved to Whitstable. I’ve consequently updated the dog-friendly listings to include a lot more pubs and restaurants!
My other half celebrates his birthday in July so we usually take a few days off with Ricci, our mini schnauzer. The summer of 2018 recorded mediterranean-style temperatures. By the time we headed for the coast all three of us were desperate to escape the heat of London and breath sea air. If you are looking for a dog-friendly escape from the city this might be the perfect mini-break.
First Stop: Whitstable
We set out after a late birthday breakfast on Thursday morning. We don’t have a car so we hired a Zipcar – dogs are allowed as long as they’re in a crate or carrier. On route we stopped to buy a cool mat for Ricci which proved to be a great investment. Whitstable is only 60 miles away and takes about one a half hours to drive.
Fisherman’s Huts
We stayed one night in Whitstable’s famous Fisherman’s Huts. We had hut no.6, located on the harbour wall, which was dog-friendly with a sea-view. We collected our keys from the Hotel Continental where breakfast is also served. We ate our breakfast, which was included in the price, on the shaded terrace looking out to sea. Dogs are also allowed in the bar dining area.
The black painted two-storey huts are cute beyond belief. They are historical buildings so they are tiny with low ceilings and ladder stairs. Be aware that anyone over six foot is going to have to watch their head! The sea-view was from the bedroom window overlooking a pretty boatyard. It was a hot night so we left the windows and shutters open but this meant we awoke early to the sound of seagulls. The silver-lining to rising early is you get to admire the sunrise.
There are deck chairs to sit out front but the the harbour wall and car park obstructs the view. Each hut has its own small parking space. Reversing into ours proved impossible. We only managed it when the occupants of another hut moved their vehicle. Even so it was pretty hairy and I had to put the birthday champagne on ice until after the manoeuvre.
Dog-friendly eats
Whitstable is one of the most dog-friendly places I know. It’s almost easier to say where you cannot eat with your dog! The famous Royal Naval Oyster Stores doesn’t allow dogs, nor does the Royal Naval Tavern. But most pubs accommodate well-behaved dogs in their bar areas even if they are not always allowed in the dining area.
You can eat pub grub right on the beach at the wonderfully located The Old Neptune and they are allowed indoors too but it is so popular it can be a bit of a squeeze. The Pearson’s Arms, Duke of Cumberland, East Kent are just some of the many gastropubs that are dog-friendly.
If you want a restaurant experience the French restaurant Birdies and The Lobster Shack are both dog friendly. The fabulous Michelin starred The Sportsman in nearby Seasalter allows small dogs, but you do need to book well in advance.
Dog walks
Many of beaches on the Kent Coast are dog-friendly all year round. This includes the long shingle beach that stretches west of Whitstable harbour. It is a great stroll which can take you well out of town, past coloured beach huts and the fabulous beach front palaces of Seasalter. You can walk all the way into Faversham if the mood takes you.
At the other side of the harbour dogs are allowed on the beach up to The Beacon House and the start of the beach huts on the Tankerton promenade. This includes a sand spit called The Street which is revealed at low tide. The view from the end of the spit is spectacular. Between May and October dogs are restricted on the beach itself on the next stretch, up to the Tankerton Yacht Club, though you can walk them on-lead along the promenade. You can walk the coastal path that runs all the way to Herne Bay and beyond. The route takes in colourful beach huts and the grassy slopes of Tankerton. The Seaview cafe is a great stop-off for more stunning views.
Second stop: Ramsgate
After breakfast on Friday we headed to Ramsgate via Canterbury. Canterbury is well worth a stop-off and if you want to stay here with your pooch try Yorke Lodge. Their website includes extensive information about dog-friendly Kent.
We booked two nights at the stylish Albion House through Pets Pyjamas. This hotel no longer accepts dogs but at the time Ricci was warmly welcomed. We certainly felt that booking through a specialist agent gave us access to a level of comfort not included in your average dog-friendly accommodation. This was a treat for all of us.
Swimming and coastal walks
On Saturday morning we took towels to swim before breakfast. East Cliff beach is a short walk away and dogs have access to it all-year-round. Only a small section of sand remains at high tide, but it’s enough to have plenty of fun in the surf. The main beach at Ramsgate is out of bounds between May and October. To be honest it’s no loss, flanked as it is by a huge Wetherspoons and all the usual litter and food left behind by humans.
At low tide tide the walk along the beach between Ramsgate and Broadstairs takes less than an hour and dogs are allowed between East Cliff and the headland at Broadstairs. Dumpton Gap is a lovely bay half way along with it’s own cafe. At high tide you can take the clifftop route, through King George IV Memorial Park, to Dumpton Gap. The final stretch is along the concrete promenade into Broadstairs. It’s easy to walk in one direction and take the Loop bus back which runs between Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.
Long search for supper
Looking for supper on Saturday we headed, on foot, for The Belle Vue, famed for it’s terrace – the ‘Balcony of Kent’. It was a pleasant 45 minute hike walking west of the harbour. Ricci played in the sea at Western Undercliffe, Ramsgate’s other dog friendly beach. After climbing the cliff to Pegwell we arrived to find a fabulous view but a basic food menu. After one drink eight tired feet padded back into town.
Luckily we stumbled on The Falstaff which was still serving supper. It’s a boutique hotel and restaurant in the heart of Ramsgate with one dog-friendly bedroom. We both had burgers; his was steak and mine was portobello mushroom. We returned to the Albion fed, watered, exhausted and happy.
Last stop: Margate
Sunday was all about visiting a friend in Margate to see her house renovation. This Victorian seaside town is going through a rapid renaissance and is now the destination of choice for London’s hipsters. It deserves a whole post to itself. To say it was busy is an understatement. Extended families and the beautiful young had all donned swimsuits to enjoy the sun, sea and sand. Needless to say we spent our day admiring a pink bathroom and swimming in Margate’s tidal pool.
Dogs on beaches
There’s a bit of confusion over dog restrictions on the beach in Margate – some feature a total ban between May and October, some allow dogs on lead between certain times and others are dog friendly year-round. To be safe check Thanet Council’s guide to dogs on beaches. According to locals Palm Bay seems to be where the cool dogs hang out before 10am and after 6pm in the summer months.
Eat and stay
You can dine with your dog at many of Margate’s eateries. Two are that are worth a mention are the gorgeous Angela’s for seafood and GB Pizza Co for thin crispy pizzas. If you want to stay in Margate the eccentric Wallpole Bay Hotel is pet-friendly.
After the beach at Margate we were homeward bound for a sweltering London. Ricci was already dreaming of her next pet adventure.
Avril x
Pin it:
