Dog-Friendly Weekend in Bournemouth

WARNING: This B&B is for dog lovers ONLY! They won't even let you stay unless you bring your dog, a fact which endeared me to the place even before I went there. Through search engines and “dog-friendly” directories, I found plenty of places that were willing to let you bring dogs, but none like White Topps, which the caters to dogs first, humans second.

It looks like a fairly typical B&B until you notice that every bit of decor has a dog theme to it. Dogs are allowed in the dining room (on leads), and they are even allowed on the furniture in the common lounge and in the bedrooms. Considering that the owners have six dogs themselves and there are at least seven other dogs on the premises at most times, I thought the place was remarkably clean and well kept. Yes, it smells “doggy,” but you've got to expect that.

The room was not en suite but did have a sink and tea-making facilities. Everything seemed a bit worn and older, but in a nice, comfortable sort of way. The bathroom was quite old fashioned, with a tub on legs and no shower. It's definitely not luxury accommodation, but if that was your thing, you probably wouldn't bring your dog on holiday with you.

You can get your breakfast and evening meals in the dining room. We chose to have just breakfasts, which were traditional English with decent portions. It's a very friendly atmosphere, as everyone loves to talk about their dogs!

The beach is about 450 yards away, and the end of it near the hotel is dog friendly year-round. It's not as nice and clean as the beaches that are closer to the centre of Bournemouth, but it's still sandy for most of it and there are lots of dogs around enjoying the sea. Our Labrador mix had a fabulous time!