The Lake District’s pub trade has leaned into dog-friendliness for years, so there’s plenty of real choice here — but “dog-friendly” can still mean anything from the whole pub to just the bar, so we’ve tried to be precise about which areas each venue actually allows. Our Cumbria hub page covers the rest of the county, and our accommodation guide is here too if you need somewhere to stay nearby.
Pubs
The Dog and Gun, Lake Road, Keswick (Google Maps) — dogs welcome throughout, with its own dog menu of treats and a free non-alcoholic drink.
Golden Rule, Smithy Brow, Ambleside (Google Maps) — dogs welcome throughout; noisy dogs are asked to leave.
The Old John Peel Inn, Rayrigg Road, Bowness-on-Windermere (Google Maps) — dogs welcome in all areas.
Tweedies Bar & Lodge, Grasmere (Google Maps) — dogs welcome throughout.
The Beehive Inn, Eamont Bridge, near Penrith (Google Maps) — dogs welcome throughout, with its own dog menu.
Ring O’ Bells, Kendal (Google Maps) — dogs welcome throughout (closed Thursdays for food).
The Hope & Anchor, Ulverston (Google Maps) — dogs welcome throughout; expect live music most evenings.
The Pheasant Inn, Keswick (Google Maps) — bar and raised beer garden only, not the dining rooms.
The Royal Oak Inn, Brantfell Road, Bowness-on-Windermere (Google Maps) — bar and outside seating only, no rooms.
The Spinners Arms, Cummersdale, Carlisle (Google Maps) — described by reviewers as “hugely dog friendly,” with staff serving dogs first and water, towels and treats always on hand. Sits on the Cumbria Way at the edge of Carlisle rather than the city centre itself.
Cafés
Fresher’s Café, The Courtyard, Rothay Road, Ambleside (Google Maps) — dogs always welcome. Stiles Coffee Bar and The Apple Pie Cafe and Bakery, both also in Ambleside, confirm dogs are welcome too, though which areas isn’t specified on the source.
Restaurants
Ambleside has the strongest confirmed restaurant cluster: Luigi’s Restaurant (Google Maps) has a dedicated floor for dogs and their owners, Sheila’s Cottage Restaurant (Google Maps) provides water bowls and biscuits, The Priest Hole Restaurant (Google Maps) welcomes dogs on its sun terrace, and Lucy’s on a Plate (Google Maps) has dog-friendly tables if you phone ahead to reserve.
What we couldn’t confirm
Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness town centre are honest gaps — we couldn’t verify a single pub, café or restaurant’s dog policy in either in this pass, so we’re not naming anything there rather than guess. Carlisle city centre proper is thin too: beyond The Spinners Arms on the edge of town, we could only confirm one café-bar (Bartons Yard at The Halston) with dogs accepted but no stated area detail. Several more names — The Albert and The Angel Inn in Bowness, The White Horse Inn and The Square Orange in Keswick — turned up in round-ups with only a generic “dog friendly” tag and no specific area confirmed, so we’ve left them out.
Once you’ve found somewhere to eat, our Cumbria vets guide is worth bookmarking, and we’ve found the calming collars and treats at Calmshops useful for busier venues — always check with your vet first if your dog has any underlying health conditions. Our local dog walks guide is a good next stop too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best dog-friendly pubs in the Lake District?
The Dog and Gun in Keswick and The Beehive Inn near Penrith both have their own dog menus, and the Golden Rule in Ambleside and Tweedies Bar & Lodge in Grasmere welcome dogs throughout the venue.
Is there a dog-friendly café in Ambleside?
Yes — Fresher’s Café in Ambleside confirms dogs are always welcome, and Stiles Coffee Bar and The Apple Pie Cafe and Bakery nearby also welcome dogs.
Are there dog-friendly pubs in Whitehaven or Barrow-in-Furness?
We couldn’t independently confirm one in either town in this pass, so we’ve left them out rather than guess. Ulverston, just along the coast from Barrow, has several confirmed dog-friendly pubs instead.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
