The Queens Arms

The Queens Arms is a stone country inn at Corton Denham, tucked into the hills a few miles north of Sherborne just over the Somerset border, and it is set up for dogs in a properly considered way rather than as an afterthought. Dogs stay in the coach house across the courtyard from the main inn, and there is a separate two-bedroom cottage for parties who want more room.

Dog-friendly accommodation is limited to three coach house rooms plus the cottage, so it is worth booking well ahead in summer and confirming the room type when you do. Well-behaved dogs are the expectation. The rooms themselves are generous, with large beds, big bathrooms, good toiletries and thick towels.

Where the inn earns its reputation is the welcome. Dog treats are kept on the bar, staff are consistently described as attentive, and dogs are made welcome in the bar and dining areas rather than confined to the room. Breakfast is cooked fresh, and the courtyard is a pleasant place to sit with a dog in warm weather.

That open-door policy in the dining room cuts both ways, and it is the one thing to weigh up. Guests have had evening meals disrupted by another party's dog barking through service, with several tables moving and staff slow to have a quiet word with the owner. If you are sensitive to noise at dinner, or your own dog reacts to other dogs at close quarters, an earlier sitting is the safer bet.

The Queens Arms suits walkers and couples who want a characterful countryside inn where the dog is genuinely part of the stay, and who are relaxed about sharing the bar with other people's dogs. It earns a 4.3/5 paw rating.