Dog friendly eating & drinking in Staffordshire

Besides enjoying the outdoors with my cocker spaniel Larkin, eating and drinking is how I spend a lot of my leisure time. Naturally, that means I’m always on the look-out for dog friendly venues.

In this post I share with you my favourite dog friendly pubs, restaurants and cafes in Staffordshire.

A RANGE OF DOG FRIENDLY PLACES TO EAT & DRINK

In this guide you’ll find a range of dog friendly places to eat and drink. I hope you’ll find somewhere you like, whether you just want to nip in for a coffee or beer and a sandwich, an informal lunch or experience some top-notch cooking.

Due to the vagaries of the British weather, I’ve concentrated mainly on venues where you can eat inside with your dog.

However, I have included some places where there’s only outside dog friendly seating. In most cases there will shelter of some kind, but I have included one or two exceptional venues suitable only in good weather.

I’ve also listed some places I really like, even if they don’t serve food.

That’s because, sometimes, a pint and a packet of pork scratchings is all you want after a great walk with your dog.

Of course this is a very personal list and everywhere that’s dog friendly isn’t covered. But I do update this post with more great places as I discover them.

Thank you to everyone who’s sent me suggestions since I first started publishing this guide, back in October 2018. I will try to get round to all of them but it may take some time!

Follow me on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram to hear when I publish updates to the guide.

LAST UPDATED: 28/06/2021

THE MOORLANDS

Abbey Inn, Leek  Dogs welcome at this lovely eighteenth century, characterful pub on the outskirts of Leek. Staff are friendly to both dogs and their humans, including bringing a water bowl. Generous portions of home cooked pub favourites like lasagne, burgers, steaks, fish and chips, using locally sourced ingredients. Good choice of real ales, many of them local.

Alton Bridge Hotel, Alton In a beautiful part of the Churnet Valley, not far from Alton Towers. The dog-friendly Alton Bridge Hotel offers good quality food using fresh ingredients, sourced locally, and real ales. Autumn/Winter menus includes the fab ‘build your own pie’ with a choice of fillings, toppings and sides. Extensive riverside beer garden. Update June 2021: temporarily closed for refurbishment. Their sister pub next door is open, although I’ve yet to visit and recommend yet.

Black Lion, Cheddleton Beautiful old pub, next to the village church, with roaring fires in winter. Dog friendly everywhere plus beer gardens to front and rear. Usually a big jar of dog biscuits on the bar. Real ales and good standard of traditional pub food. Sunday lunches extremely popular plus Thursday tapas nights.

Black Lion Inn, Butterton With new owners in 2019, this traditional village pub has been slowly and loving refurbished. Dog friendly everywhere inside except the restaurant, plus a spacious beer garden. The food on offer is of a very high standard and everything, including home churned butter, is made from scratch. Exceptional Sunday lunches. Read my review of The Black Lion Inn here

Butcher’s Arms, Forsbrook This Joule’s taphouse serves up traditional, simple pub food done to a great standard. That means steak and ale pie, proper fish and chips, quality burgers, steaks, gammon plus a few vegetarian options. Dog friendly everywhere inside except the restaurant, there’s lots of outdoor seating too, much of it covered. Read my review of The Butcher’s Arms here

Cafe Apollonia, Leek This friendly cafe in the market square is one of my favourite places for breakfast when I’m shopping in Leek. Dog friendly downstairs and at the outdoor tables, their All Day Breakfast features top quality ingredients plus cheesy oatcake! Also great for soups, sandwiches, cakes, pancakes and more.

Cheddleton Old School Tearooms Dog friendly inside plus outside seating. Open Wednesday to Sunday for tea, coffee, breakfasts, lunches and lots of homemade cakes. The homemade steak and ale pie with proper chips is particularly good.

Cock Inn, Leek  A traditional pub, full of character with open fires, wood paneling and lots of Joules brewery memorabilia. Dog-friendly except in the area up the steps, there’s also outside seating. No food available the last few times I’ve visited, but go for the good range of beers (I’ve even been known to drink lager at this place: Joules’ Green Monkey is excellent). Occasional live music at weekends.

Flintlock at Cheddleton  Although you can only take your dog on the terrace so it’s very weather dependent AND it’s usually drinks only there, I just had to include The Flintlock. In my home village, the canalside location is perfect for stopping off after walkies with your dog. (If you happen to be in the area sometime without your pooch, then I highly recommend you give the restaurant a try).

Fountain Inn, Leek Dog friendly everywhere. Named CAMRA’s best West Midlands pub 2018. No food, but a traditional, cosy pub in Leek town centre with fires in winter. 8 real ales, including 5 changing guest beers.

Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek Community-run arts centre with a gallery, live events, displays of local history and heritage. Dog-friendly cafe plus outside seating in the gardens. Simple menu of sandwiches, soups, Staffordshire lobby etc. There’s usually a good selection of cakes too. Licensed.

Greyhound Inn, Warslow Lovely country pub, friendly to both dogs and humans! Good choice of local beers including their own pale ale and bitter. Food is pub classics with vegetarian and vegan choices too. Smashing Sunday lunches include tasty beef from Gap Farm literally a few steps from the pub.

The Hideout, Leek  (Previously BeerDock) Situated in Leek’s historic market place, The Hideout is all about the beer. There’s a huge selection of craft and artisan beers both on tap and in bottles or cans to take away. Good range of gins too. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. It’s a pretty small place, but dogs welcome everywhere.

Holly Bush, Denford  A former flour mill in a picturesque location right next to the Caldon Canal. Great walks on its doorstep. Dogs allowed in most of the inside spaces, but it’s lovely to sit out front, watching the narrowboats go by. There’s more seating round the back plus play area for children. Gets very busy at weekends . Serves traditional pub food every day between 12.00 – 8.30 pm.

Jervis Arms, Onecote  Characterful country pub with a warm welcome for people and dogs. The quality of the cooking is good with popular pub classics like steaks (try the Butler steak), gourmet burgers, fish and chips plus something a little different e.g. Wild Mushroom, Truffle & Garlic Salad or Pakora with Smoked Aubergine. Read my review of The Jervis Arms here

Lazy Trout, Meerbrook A fine collection of local, real ales and wonderful food. Look out for local pasture-fed beef and incredible lamb from nearby Troutsdale Farm. Dogs welcome everywhere except the central, carpeted room. Lots of outside seating and a large beer garden with spectacular views of The Roaches and Hen Cloud. Very popular, so book ahead if you want to eat at weekends. My most recent review of The Lazy Trout is here

Lion House Tea Room, Leek  Lovely, quirky place with charming mismatched china mugs, plates, teapots, spoons. Very dog friendly – our boy got his own little china plate with biccies on! Simple food like breakfasts, sandwiches, soup, Staffordshire oatcakes, quiche plus homemade cakes and scones. Good sized portions and uses lots of local suppliers.

Manifold Inn, Hulme End In a great location on the Manifold Way, this traditional pub is popular with locals, walkers, campers, and holiday makers. Offering satisfying, reasonably priced home-cooked food, dogs are welcome in the bar. There’s also outside seating plus barbecues and a field bar in the summer.

Monty’s Fish & Chips, Leek Right in the Market Square, Monty’s is a great choice for dog friendly eating after a spot of shopping in Leek. Set over two floors, your pooch might even get a free sausage! Lunchtime specials are very good value for things like small fish, chips, peas, bread and butter plus tea or coffee, or steak and kidney pie or pudding and gravy.

No.5 Café, Leek Lovely dog friendly café in the centre of Leek. Owned by the same people who run the marvelous artisan bakery next door, Live Love Loaf, you can be sure of getting a knock-out sandwich with a range of their breads to choose from. Fillings are pretty imaginative too; I’ve had Smashed Pea & Feta, Roast Pork with Appleslaw and a fabulous New Yorker which included their homemade pastrami. Also pastries and sweet baked goodies.

Old Mill Smokehouse, Leek  Dog friendly in the bar downstairs, The Old Mill is set in the Grade II-listed Shoobridge Mill on Haywood Street. Opened towards the end of 2018, there’s a huge range of craft beers and, to eat, smokehouse classics like brisket, ribs, beef plus vegetarian choices. Live music events as well as specials like Tuesday burger nights and Wednesday steak nights. Read my review of The Old Mill here and all about their Whisky Night here.

Ramblers Retreat, Dimmingsdale In the heart of this wooded, beautiful part of the Churnet Valley, The Rambler’s Retreat has been serving tea, cakes and loads more for almost forty years. You can only sit outside with your dog, but the gardens are lovely in summer and there’s pretty wooden huts and covered tables if the weather’s not so good. Exceptional cakes and desserts but also breakfasts, lunches and snacks.

Red Lion, Cheddleton Popular, very friendly village pub serving hearty food: steaks, burgers, chicken, chilli, etc. Portions extremely generous. Dogs allowed in the bar area, but the outside has recently been greatly enhanced including covered seating and a bar. More exciting plans for the future too, I hear!

Roebuck, Leek  In an impressive building dating from 1626 and owned by the Titanic Brewery in nearby Burslem. Extremely dog friendly throughout. Large selection of traditional pub food on offer, including the ‘Totally Locally Burger’ with local ingredients sourced within 100 yards of the pub. Loads of events including quizzes, live music and in summer The Hop Yard outside bar.

Spout Brew House, Leek Lovely, quirky coffee shop and bar that’s very dog friendly inside. Also a refurbished outdoor area from 2021. Homemade fresh food, including lots of vegetarian and vegan choices as well as gluten-free.  The Mumbai Breakfast is legendary: sourdough toast with cheese and chilli, topped with perfectly cooked fried eggs  Delicious homemade cakes too.

The Tea Junction, Hulme End After coming under new management in 2019, this great little stop off on the popular Manifold Track is now dog friendly inside. Nice outdoor seating in good weather too. There’s a big range of homemade cakes and scones plus savouries like Staffordshire oatcake, bacon sarnies and pulled pork baps.

Three Horseshoes at Blackshaw Moor, Leek  Dogs allowed in the bar and beer garden. Situated on the edge of the stunning Staffordshire Peak District, there’s so many great places to walk your dog near this great country inn and spa. Besides traditional roasts, grills, pub classics and a top-notch carvery, there’s a good choice of imaginative starters and desserts plus modern British main courses. Read my review of The Three Horseshoes here

White Hart Tea Room, Leek This Leek institution, set in a Grade II listed building, became dog-friendly after a recent change of ownership – they even do special dog events like their Valentine Doggy Breakfast to raise money for animal charities. Good range of homemade food and they’ve recently added lots of vegan options to the menu.

East Staffordshire

Denstone Hall I’m a huge fan of this award-winning farm shop and café on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border.  Open every day for breakfast and lunch, everything in the café is homemade, from pies, cakes and tarts to the sausage or burger in your bap. Dog’s aren’t allowed inside the café itself, but the outdoor seating has wonderful views of the Staffordshire countryside .

Also, there’s the ‘Dog House’ – a rather swanky lodge where you can eat outside with your pooch whatever the weather.  Read my review of Denstone Hall here.

Duncombe Arms, Ellastone Don’t be confused by the post code: this fantastic spot is definitely in Staffordshire! Fine dining plus pub classics in an exceptional country pub. There’s two dog friendly tables in the bar plus loads of outside seating with lovely views of the countryside. Food is of a very high standard and highly recommended. Read my review of The Duncombe Arms here.

Stafford

Dog & Doublet Inn, Sandon Dog friendly in the cosy bar and snug, this is an excellent gastro pub in a beautifully restored Arts & Crafts building. Depending on the time of your visit, there’s a range of menus including sandwiches, sharing platters and grazing boards, classics like local steaks and burgers plus modern British cooking. And if you want to make a night of it, one of their guest bedrooms is dog friendly too! Read my review of the Dog & Doublet here

Fitzherbert Arms, Swynnerton Four miles south from the market town of Stone, the Fitzherbert Arms is dog-friendly in the bar areas. Pub favourites like burgers, battered haddock, steak and homemade pies. Also dishes with a modern British feel such as braised pig cheek with apple and balsamic glaze. Lots of sharing plates, platters and nibbles plus a good range of sandwiches too. Read my review of the Fitzherbert Arms here

Little Seeds Bar & Kitchen, Stone Open for breakfasts, lunch and dinner and dog friendly on the ground floor up til 6pm. Little Seeds describes its food as vibrant and contemporary British. Extremely good value for this standard of cooking, which is also beautifully presented. Welcoming, informal atmosphere. Read my review of Little Seeds here

Plume of Feathers, Barleston Owned by Neil Morrissey of Men Behaving Badly and Bob the Builder fame. Dogs are allowed in the bar only, but it’s pretty big, plus outside seating. It’s a great stop-off after you’ve taken your dog for a walk at nearby Downs Banks. Good mix of pub classics combined with more imaginative options too: try the smoked haddock Scotch egg with black pudding, beer pickled onion and curry mayo. Plenty of real ales including Morrissey’s Blonde and Titanic’s Plum Porter. Try the sampling board of three different one-third pints. Read my review of the Plume of Feathers here

The Red Lion, Bradley Dog friendly in the bar area. Beautifully renovated country pub just south west of Stafford. Offers a mix of well made pub classics alongside accomplished modern British cooking. At lunchtime, there’s a separate menu with a range of sandwiches and two or three course fixed price menus. Always plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too. Traditional roast lunches available on Sundays. Read my review of The Red Lion here

The Tap Steakhouse, Stafford Dog friendly in The Tap Room both daytime and evening at this friendly, nicely refurbished pub. Hearty, good value food. As you’d expect from a place calling itself a steakhouse, the emphasis is on meat: locally sourced and steaks are aged for a minimum of thirty days. It’s not all steaks though, there’s ribs, chicken, fish and lots more (including for vegetarians). I recommend the haggis and black pudding stack!  Read my review of The Tap Steakhouse here

Stoke-on-Trent

The Corner Opened in March 2019, I’ve only eaten at The Corner once but I must go back soon! I loved my eggs Benedict with streaky bacon and other half had tasty, perfectly roasted vegetables and hummus in a baguette. Our dog was made very welcome with a water bowl and biscuits.

NØRTH Kitchen + Bar Dog friendly downstairs plus outside seating, NØRTH is the latest incarnation of RAWR in Stoke-on-Trent’s Cultural Quarter. Based around good quality, fresh ingredients presented in imaginative combinations, there’s lots of dishes to suit vegetarian and vegan diets. Licensed, with a great range of fresh juices and smoothies too. Read my review of NØRTH here.

Slamwich Club Dog friendly downstairs plus outside seating. It seems wrong to say that Slamwich Club sells toasted sandwiches, because they’re so much more than that. The outsized affairs aren’t just a snack but a whole meal. Fantastic range of fillings with punning names like Now You Caesar, Now You Don’t and Tartare For Now (caper battered cod, rosti, minted pea puree). Vegans aren’t left out either with sandwiches like the Happea Chick (falafel, grilled red pepper, hummus). Loads of sides, fries, salads, dips and sauces too. Read my review of Slamwich Club here.

see my favourite dog-friendly places to eat & drink in Wales here