Pooches in Pubs initiative keeps man's best friend by his side

The company is targeting the nation's growing band of dog lovers with a new 'Pooches in Pubs' campaign, designed to make its pubs the first point of call for all canine customers and their owners.

Pooches in Pubs aims to make Brakspear’s pubs more dog friendly, with a supply of 'dogs welcome' posters and drip mats, water bowls, treats and recipes for dog meals.

It means dog owners can spend extra time exploring the area with the benefit of being to have their pet with them, rather than leaving them with friends or in kennels.

All of Brakspear’s pubs are participating in this initiative, including its managed Inn, The Porch House at Stow.

Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said: "The majority of our pubs, especially in rural areas, are already dog friendly. We know that if dogs are fed, watered and made to feel comfortable in the pub, their owners will spend more time with us, so it makes sound business sense as well as offering good customer service.”

Central to the campaign is a competition for dog owners, inviting them to submit a picture of their pooch in a Brakspear pub via social media, with winners receiving a charcoal drawing of their dog, and runner up prizes of Brakspear water bowls and frisbees. Pictures are displayed on a dedicated website page at www.brakspear.co.uk/woof

Dating back to 947AD, The Porch House, a stylish boutique hotel with 13 rooms, restaurant and inn, is located in the centre of the picturesque Cotswolds market town of Stow and claims to be ‘England’s oldest Inn’.

It offers four, dog-friendly double rooms at £99 a night bed and breakfast plus an additional £15 for dogs. As well as a full English breakfast for both dogs and their owners, The Porch House offers water bowls and doggie treats. Dogs are also welcome in the bar, bar restaurant area and outside on the inn’s courtyard garden.