Twelve London venues that told us themselves your dog is welcome
Every venue on Paws of London has been checked by us. Some go a step further and get in touch to confirm their listing. That's what "confirmed" means here: the venue told us in its own words that dogs are welcome. This week twelve did, from an old Enfield inn to a barge on the River Lee and three vet practices.
Pubs and bars
The Pelton Arms
The owner confirmed this one personally. It's a friendly local at 23-25 Pelton Road in Greenwich, serving real ales, with guest rooms above the bar. Food comes from two kitchens: Wandercrust does wood-fired sourdough Neapolitan pizza, and Afuego does Latin-inspired tacos, burgers and wings. Dogs need to be on a lead. The pub is known for live bands, and on busy band nights it gets very loud and packed inside, so the pub suggests keeping your dog out of the bar on those nights. There's plenty of outdoor seating then instead.
The Scolt Head
A De Beauvoir Town pub at 107A Culford Road, named after a small island off the North Norfolk coast and run by siblings Rich Haines and Rosie Wesemann since late 2006. Dogs are welcome all through the inside, and there's an enclosed garden too. There's also a resident: pub dog Lexi, who took over from the much-missed Monkey. The back room has a darts board that's free to use when the room isn't booked, and there's wifi if you want to work there in the daytime with the dog at your feet.
Rose and Crown - Clay Hill
One of the very oldest inns in Enfield, at 185 Clay Hill, in a hollow between Whitewebbs Park and Hilly Fields. That makes it a good place to finish a long walk. Dogs are welcome throughout the pub. The building was once owned by Dick Turpin's grandfather, and the iron ring on the front wall is where Turpin may have tied up his horse. Beavertown beers are on tap.
The Queens Arms
A corner pub at 11 Warwick Way in Pimlico, near Victoria, established in 1846 and run by Brunning & Price. Downstairs is a traditional bar with real ales, craft beers, wine and cocktails, and upstairs is a dining room. Outside there are four heated, covered benches, first come first served, which make a comfortable spot for you and your dog on a cold evening.
William The Fourth | Leyton
Walthamstow's Exale Brewing runs this laid-back, old-school boozer at 816 High Road, Leyton. It has 14 lines of tank-fresh beer and cask ale, with Romana-style thin-crust pizzas and Italian small plates from Short Road Pizza. There's a beer garden and outdoor seating. Children are welcome until 7pm, so evenings are calmer for a dog that's wary of little hands.
The Old Sergeant Pub
A Victorian pub at 104 Garratt Lane in Earlsfield, with modern decor inside and Indian food from the kitchen: curries and tandoori dishes. There's an enclosed garden and outdoor seating. Sport plays on eight big HD screens, and there are quiz, DJ, live music and karaoke nights.
Unicorn
A family and dog-friendly local at 225 Clayhall Avenue in Ilford, with outdoor seating, a pool table and a dart board. The menu covers burgers, pizzas and pub classics, and there's a menu with no gluten-containing ingredients. There are regular live music, quiz and karaoke nights, and live sport on several screens.
Brewdog Upminster
A craft beer bar at 18 Station Road, in the centre of Upminster, with 70 taps of BrewDog beer alongside other UK and international breweries. For dog owners, the enclosed garden is the best part, and there's a roof terrace too. Burgers, wings and salads are on the menu, and you can book a table. Under 18s aren't allowed after 8pm.
On the water
Barge East
A restaurant and bar on a 125-year-old Dutch barge, moored at Sweetwater Mooring off White Post Lane in Hackney Wick. Around the barge there's a terrace with all-day bistro dining, street food and drinks in the gardens, and a gelato, coffee and cocktail counter. There's outdoor seating on the riverbank, so you can settle in with your dog and watch the River Lee go by.
Three vets
A vet that is glad to see your dog makes every appointment easier, and these three got in touch to tell us so.
Pet Care Veterinary Surgery
This practice at 355 Bexley Road in Northumberland Heath, Erith, has been caring for local pets since 1984 and is part of the Kin Vet Community. It has an in-house lab for certain tests and does keyhole surgery for some procedures. Routine care includes microchipping, nail trims and anal gland expression. It's also an accredited training practice.
Goddard Veterinary Group, Stockwell
At 348 South Lambeth Road, this practice has looked after local pets since the 1980s and joined the Goddard group in 2008. It serves Stockwell, Clapham, Brixton, Vauxhall and Oval, with blood testing, x-rays and surgery all on site. If you're taking your dog abroad, its Official Veterinarians can issue Animal Health Certificates.
Medivet Canonbury - Canonbury Vets
At 226-228 Essex Road in Islington, with accessible premises. Dogs are welcome throughout. The co-owner, Leonardo Marrone, is working towards a surgical certificate with a particular interest in orthopaedics, and another vet on the team has a particular interest in emergency and critical care. You can book a first consultation online, and one of the vets lives with a rescue dog.
Making a good day of it
- Walk first. A tired dog settles far more easily under a pub table, and Whitewebbs Park on the way to the Rose and Crown is made for it.
- Bring water and a bowl for the walk there, especially to a busy garden on a warm afternoon.
- If your dog is nervous, go early in the day. Band nights at the Pelton Arms and big matches or karaoke nights at the Old Sergeant and Unicorn are loud.
- Keep the lead short in a busy room so your dog stays out of the way of people carrying trays and pints.
- For vet visits, a short sniffy walk beforehand and a few treats in your pocket make the waiting room easier for an anxious dog.