Dogs in restaurants - I am done!

Yes, I agree with you. But the previous poster is arguing that only 4% of cafes in Brighton are dog-friendly and that it’s the most dog-friendly city in the UK. If this is the case, then surely it would be easy to go almost anywhere and find a dog-free alternative.

Actually, these figures are far too low (and I know this because I know Brighton well).

But as people are asking for data..,

In 2021 there were 363 registered cafes in Brighton (source: https://www.foodserviceequipmentjournal.com/revealed-the-uk-location-that-boasts-the-highest-number-of-coffee-shops-per-person/)

That was a while ago, and I couldn’t find more up to date figures, so let’s round up to 400. This means that if only 4% of cafes were dog friendly, only 16 cafes in Brighton would be dog-friendly.

I am not going to list them all, and I’ve been challenged on a list I posted previously that named over 400 cafes and restaurants that are dog-friendly. So let’s see if I can name at least 17 to disprove the statistics.

Caffe Nero is, and there are at least three branches where I’ve personally seen dogs.
At least one of the Starbucks
At least 4 of the Flour Pot Bakeries
Garden Cafe Brighton
Starfish & Coffee
Lucky Beach Cafe
At least 2 Cafe Coho branches
Nowhere Man
Ikigal Coffee
Redroaster
At least 3 of the Trading Post Coffee branches

I could go on, but that’s 19 - so the 4% stat is clearly nonsense.

You have no idea how i behave when I’m out and about with my dog based on me disagreeing with you about dogs in dog friendly places.

Anyway, in 2018 I saw two men fight in a pub. Make of that what you will!

This thread has many examples of good and respectful dog owners, I think perhaps the majority. You and a few others on here however are coming across as the worst kind of entitled and selfish defensive owners, who make things worse for everyone. So we will not really be able to have a debate and I will leave you to it.

Dogs should sit outside with their owners, owners can wrap up warm. Everyone else can sit inside. Sorted.

Ah sorry, I thought questions were allowed. Next time you share a story from years ago I’ll leave you to it.

I suspect a lot of people have seen this kind of thing at least once in dog-friendly places.

The thing is, you can have all the data from all over the world. But when it’s an issue that is endemic in your area and does adversely affect you on a day to day basis, the countrywide stats become meaningless!

Sometimes, I have only found out a place is dog friendly based on reviews. It is not listed on their website. So, I do think that things like that should be made clearer.

But many on this thread see a place with a big sign saying it is dog friendly, and are still complaining that dogs are in there. Probably the same people who complain that a vegan restaurant wont serve them meat and are expecting a big sign on the window to tell them.

It is just an anecdote like many people have shared here on both sides. It is an example of an issue that is worth discussing. I wonder why you have a problem with that? Odd.

It’s interesting the variation in areas. I live in ‘nice’ part of N London. And there is a certain kind of entitled owner who doesn’t care that their dog on its extendable lead is walking around the cafe. I had to tell one rather posh woman to stop her lab wandering round a cafe. She was outraged but too ‘genteel’ to shout or swear at me.

My parents live in a much poorer area with lots of ethnic minorities. It is less ‘nice’ but at least you don’t see a dog standing up with its paws on the counter, having its head stroked by the member of staff who is about to prepare your bagel!

Totally agree with you.

You’re the one relying on dodgy data to make your point!

A simple walk with a dog around central Brighton will prove that data wrong.

The problem is we generally dont know what a dog friendly restaurant is until you have sat down, ordered and then someone arrives with their dog. You need a BIG sign outside, plastered on the website as well otherwise it must be assumed it is people friendly only. Its getting to the point where we need some sort of clear guidance or law to follow regarding dog and restaurant practices. I dont want to go to a cafe or restaurant unless I know for certain it is only people friendly.

Do you think this one anecdote from a “a couple of years ago” is evidence dogs shouldn’t be in pubs?

Again: very happy to look at any other data you may have to hand.

A couple of years ago we went to a pub for dinner. We were sitting at our table. There was a customer standing near the entrance with their small dog. Then another bigger dog came in. The small dog started barking and then the bigger dog joined in and it lunged forward and knocked into a table. The jug and other stuff on the table crashed the floor and the smaller dog went running away. It was like a comedy scene except many of us didn’t find it funny. The owners were obviously giggling along. Eventually, control was achieved and the staff had to start clearing the broken glass and mess up. The staff there looked so fed up.

Just because a place allows dogs, doesn’t mean it’s easy for staff there. They have
no choice.

Anyway, given the behaviour by some on here, I will be told that this incident didn’t happen.

Methodology does not look particularly robust, however!

Methodology

For the UK and world wide index, TripAdvisor and booking.com data was used to determine the best city in the UK for dog-friendly businesses. Out of all the registered hotels, restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars in the most populated cities, filters were used to determine the number of dog friendly vs non dog-friendly establishments. These were then converted into percentages and ranked to reveal the cities with the most dog friendly hospitality businesses.

The study also analysed over 52,600 businesses in the UK to work out the average customer ratings and number of 5* excellent reviews for both dog-friendly and non dog friendly businesses. Data was ranked accordingly and of equal weighting to give a fair outcome for average ratings of dog-friendly and non-dog-friendly businesses in the UK.

I live in a touristy area and nearly everywhere is very dog friendly and never seen or heard any issues. You would hate it, but that's part of the reason we moved here.

I would prefer kid-free restaurants tbh.

That really is not true.
I could not care less what other people think of any dog with me. As long as they are not rude, I don't care.
I am fine with people not liking dogs. It does not affect me at all.

Sorry, that was my mistake!. Gail's used not to allow dogs but now it does.

Some only allow dogs outside though : 'We have a handful of exceptions where we are not able to accommodate dogs sitting inside the bakery: Balham, Chiswick, Greenwich, Hampstead, Soho, Kings Road, Wimbledon Village and Kensington Arcade. '

It's not chatgpt, it's data from a survey done by Dojo (a payment services provider).

If you Google "Dojo dog-friendly businesses" you will easily find the details.

I don’t want you to love my dog. You’ve just admitted to wanting to eat them!

It's the lack of consideration for other people that amazes me. Dog owners are so myopic, they think that because they love their dog, everyone else must too.

In my bit of North London there are around 10 cafés on our local high street area. The only one that doesn’t allow dogs is Costa. Nice enough though Costa is, I would definitely prefer the other places if they didn’t have dogs there. It’s a shame. And I don’t know why some people are saying that Gail’s doesn’t allow dogs, it most definitely does.

Here’s some restaurants that don’t allow dogs. Not those restaurants!

Here’s some stats that show places that let dogs in aren’t the norm. Not those stats!