Dogs' dinner: popular pub launches Sunday lunch for canines
The 'doggie roasts' are available at the Bowbridge Arms in Stroud every Sunday from 12noon until 4pm.
The dish includes a dog bowl of roast meat (chicken or beef), fresh vegetables with salt-free gravy and the pub will even add the animal’s name to the bowl.
Licensee Suzie Smith told The Morning Advertiser: "We started doing "doggy roasts" back in January after seeing a lot of pleading eyes watching as we passed with meals.
"They're £2.50 each and just like a normal roast dinner they consist of meat, vegetables, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and (a no salt) gravy all in a personalised dog bowl.
"So far, they have been a big hit with our local pooches and they look forward to their Sunday treat. Perfect after a stroll along the canal. Our customers can enjoy their lunch while their doggies enjoy theirs."
This wasn’t the first time a pub has introduced a specially adapted dish for canines because a Swansea licensee also did this in 2016.
Free dinner
Licensee Alyson Jones, who runs the pub with her partner Gareth Traynor, came up with the idea.
She said: “Dogs would come into the bar area and I was always giving them treats and bits of meat so thought I could do something in bowls.”
The Poundffald’s Sunday lunch includes pieces of meat, usually turkey or beef, potatoes and veg and is free of charge for customers’ four-legged friends.
Increased interaction
This came after the Kennel Club called for pubs to adopt a dog-friendly policy because operators could benefit financially from this.
Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: “Venues have found their guests have an improved overall experience and there is an increased level of interaction between customers and staff when dogs are present.
“In a recent survey, four out of five companies said business had improved as a result of expanding their customer base to include canines.”
She also said despite being a nation of dog lovers, many owners struggle to find bars and restaurants where their canine companions are welcome and said pubs that allow dogs to curl up under tables, provide water bowls and possibly offer treats should be recognised and rewarded, which is why the club organises the annual Be Dog Friendly Awards.
