Inn in the Park Poole

Inn in the Park is a traditional pub with rooms on a quiet residential road in Canford Cliffs, a few minutes' walk from Branksome Dene Chine and the sand below it. For dog owners it is a straightforward, unfussy Poole base: the bar downstairs is the heart of the place, the walk down to the chine takes minutes, and staff treat a dog in the doorway as a welcome sight rather than a complication.

The pet arrangement has one important condition attached. Dogs stay in the standard double rooms only, as the superior and deluxe rooms are not dog friendly, so the right room type has to be booked in advance rather than sorted out on arrival. One dog per room, and a pet charge of £20 per room applies.

Where the property stands out is the welcome itself. Guests arriving with dogs describe staff who make a genuine fuss of them, with treats on arrival and something off the breakfast plate the next morning. That warmth runs through the wider feedback too, where friendly and helpful staff and good food come up repeatedly, breakfast most of all.

Be realistic about the rooms. Guests describe them as tired and ready for a refresh, with the bathrooms the weakest part and housekeeping that is not always consistent. Because the bedrooms sit above a working pub, noise from the bar carries upstairs into the evening, live music especially. Neither point is a dealbreaker for a night or two, but this is a pub with rooms rather than a smart hotel, and it is worth setting expectations accordingly.

It suits dog owners who want a friendly, walkable base near the Poole beaches and who value a warm welcome over a polished room. Check the seasonal dog restrictions on the beach itself before you travel, as they vary through the summer. It earns a 4.3/5 paw rating.