Livermead House Hotel

Livermead House Hotel is a traditional seaside hotel right on the Torquay seafront, across the road from a quiet stretch of beach, and it gives dog owners a classic English Riviera base with the coast path on the doorstep.

Dogs stay in designated pet-friendly bedrooms for £15 per dog, per night, with a maximum of two dogs per room. These rooms are limited, so book one in advance rather than asking on arrival. Dogs are not allowed in the restaurant or the lounges, which means evenings need some planning if your dog does not like being left alone in the room. Free on-site parking is a bonus in this part of Torquay.

Guests travelling with dogs regularly say the staff are friendly and quick to make a fuss of their dogs, and many count the pet-friendly policy among the best things about the stay. The location gets the strongest praise: the sea is just across the road, the gardens are a pleasant place to sit, and the pool and jacuzzi stay open into the evening. Breakfast is cooked to order and generally well liked.

The building is the main drawback. The hotel is very dated and overdue for renovation, and some guests with dogs found lumpy beds, thin pillows, old sash windows that let in kitchen and bin noise, and a poor view from rear rooms. One party who had said they were bringing dogs was first given a small, stuffy room with barely space for the dog baskets, and paid extra to move to a larger one, so ask for a room size that suits your dog when you book. Wi-Fi is weak away from reception.

Livermead House suits dog owners who want a seafront base for long coastal walks and are happy to eat away from their dog or plan around it in the evenings. It is less suited to anyone wanting modern rooms or a dog at the dinner table.