Set just outside of the coastal town of Padstow, Cornwall, surrounded by rolling green fields and quaint country lanes is The Cornish Arms. The pub, owned by British chef Rick Stein, has been dubbed “the best dog-friendly pub in the UK” by experts at dog-friendly holiday specialists from Canine Cottages.
The analysis was sparked by a rapid increase in search volume for “dog-friendly pubs near me” in recent months, with a survey by Canine Cottages discovering 79 percent of dog owners say dog-friendly pubs and restaurants are important when booking a staycation.
As part of their report, Canine Cottages said: “The Cornish Arms, St Merryn is Rick Stein’s famous pub and unsurprisingly serves amazing food.
“One of the best dog-friendly pubs in North Cornwall; in the summer months the large beer garden is perfect for soaking up the Cornish sunshine, or for a lazy summer evening following a day at one of the many nearby beaches.”
The traditional village pub is nestled in the Cornish countryside, serving up a classic pub menu and a selection of real ales sourced from St Austell Brewery. Quintessential menu items include fish and chips, burgers, ham, egg and chips and steak and ale pie, and during the summer months, the spacious beer garden welcomes a wood-fired pizza menu.
During the winter the pub offers a log fire and cosy bar area to escape the bitter cold of the outdoors.
Given its famous owner, the menu can get busy so booking is advised. While the pub scores highly, with multiple five-star reviews praising the atmosphere and menu selection, on Tripadvisor the current rating sits in the middle ground at 3.5 stars.
The pub’s “relaxed” atmosphere seems to be the top-scoring attribute, while prices left several reviewers a little disappointed.
In June 2024, a visitor from South Wales left a review stating: “Previously had food here and not disappointed. We are staying nearby, so after 6 hours travelling and setting our caravan up we thought we would walk up and have a drink. When my husband came back to tell me my large glass of wine was £15 I was shocked! Will walk up the road to the village next time!” [SIC]
Contrastingly, another visitor during the same month left a five-star review, writing: “Having read some of the negative reviews I was some what worried about our visit. No need! We had a lovely meal with great service and reasonably priced drinks. We had Hummus and the devilled kidneys to start and lemon sole goujons and lamb curry.
“All the food was great and good sized portions too we thoroughly enjoyed. It was under £6 a pint lager £4.50 for a pint of pale ale. We paid over £7 a pint at the beach in a plastic glass. I would highly recommend – go and enjoy!”