The Vale of Glamorgan’s dog-friendly pubs are best found in Penarth, Cowbridge and along the Heritage Coast. Most of what follows rests on CAMRA’s “Dog Friendly” tag, which tells you a pub welcomes dogs but rarely which rooms, so a quick call is sensible. We found no pub’s own website or social page stating a dog policy this round.
Penarth
The Pilot, 67 Queen’s Road, welcomes dogs in the front bar until 5pm, according to CAMRA (updated September 2026). Cefn Mably, 1 Lavernock Road, carries the Dog Friendly tag with no detail on where dogs can go. Ego at The Schooner Inn, also on Lavernock Road, welcomes dogs on the patio, but that listing dates from May 2024. The two Lavernock Road pubs are separate venues, so don’t mix them up.
Cowbridge and Llantwit Major
In Cowbridge, 1 Town Hall Square and the Vale of Glamorgan Inn on the High Street are both tagged Dog Friendly, as is the Cross Inn at Llanblethian, just outside. In Llantwit Major, the Old Swan Inn is tagged (the listing shows no date) and Llantwit Major Rugby Club welcomes dogs in the players’ bar; it’s a club, so check whether non-members can go in.
Heritage Coast
The Three Golden Cups at Southerndown (CF32 0RW) is tagged Dog Friendly, as is the Pelican Inn at Ogmore-by-Sea (CF32 0QP), though its opening hours were uncertain. One listing site files the Three Golden Cups under Bridgend, but CAMRA’s address places it in Southerndown, which is in the Vale. Don’t confuse the Pelican Inn with The Pelican in her Piety at Ogmore village.
Cafés and gardens
At Dyffryn Gardens (National Trust), dogs are welcome indoors in the Gardens Cafe and the shop, and in nearly all of the gardens on a short lead, with water bowls at the café and Welcome Centre. The two log-stack play areas and the Glass House are off limits, and the house is closed to dogs. Cosmeston Lakes Country Park welcomes dogs (on leads in the car park and around the east lake), but the council page says nothing about its café, so ask. Penarth esplanade cafés, Porthkerry Park café and Barry Island cafés are unconfirmed.
Leads, closures and gaps
Treat these as leads, not confirmed listings. A 2016 Buzz Magazine article said Hamptons in Penarth seats dogs at tables and gives a free doggycino, and called Marco’s Café on Barry Island a mecca for dog owners, but both are ten years old. Visit the Vale calls The Captain’s Wife a dog-friendly refreshment stop without saying where it is. Goodsheds at Barry Waterfront states no dog policy that we found. The Clive Arms in Penarth and the Barry Island Brewers Fayre have both closed. We found nothing for Dinas Powys, Rhoose, St Athan, Wenvoe or Sully, which is a limit of our search rather than proof.
Busy pubs can overwhelm a nervier dog. A calming bite before you set off can help take the edge off, and if the nerves run deeper, that is a conversation for your vet. For everything else, see our Vale of Glamorgan dog services hub, and for somewhere to walk before lunch, our best local dog walks in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Penarth pubs allow dogs?
CAMRA tags The Pilot (front bar until 5pm), Cefn Mably and Ego at The Schooner Inn (patio) as dog friendly. Ring ahead to check where dogs can sit.
Can dogs go in the café at Dyffryn Gardens?
Yes. The National Trust says dogs are welcome indoors in the Gardens Cafe and shop, and in nearly all of the gardens on a short lead.
Are there dog-friendly pubs near Ogmore and Southerndown?
CAMRA tags the Three Golden Cups at Southerndown and the Pelican Inn at Ogmore-by-Sea as dog friendly. The Pelican Inn’s opening hours were uncertain, so check first.
Written by Georgiana & Figo, who has strong views on which patios catch the afternoon sun.
