Meet the winner of the Best Pub for Dogs 2023

The pub, which also took home the title last year, is located on the busy A6, going through to Cumbria and is in a prime position for staycations.

It’s A La Barke menu features full meals for the four-legged customers with dishes priced from £3 and up while on a Sunday, dogs can also tuck into a roast alongside their humans.

However, the pub has separate areas so guests who don’t want to sit near dogs can in a designated space.

Stick library

Judges were impressed with the pub’s cone system where owners collect different coloured cones depending on the temperament and diet of their dog.

The Bellflower’s large garden features a stick library – where pooches can choose and replace their own sticks to play with.

Furthermore, humans can hire out the garden for exclusive use before the pub opens to provide an area for their dog to run around off-lead, in a secure environment.

Designated drinks

On the drinks side of things, pooches can enjoy their own dog beer while their owners sip their pints.

Future plans at the Bellflower include expanding their events side, which currently includes birthday parties for dogs. 

Full list of 2023 GBPA winners:​

Great British Pub of the Year 2023 – the Cholmondeley Arms, Malpas, Cheshire​

Best City/Urban Pub – the Turks Head, Twickenham, Greater London​

Best Country/Rural Pub – the Cholmondeley Arms, Malpas, Cheshire​

Best Pub for Food – the Loch & The Tyne, Old Windsor, Berkshire​

Best Pub for Dogs – the Bellflower, Garstang, Lancashire

Best Pub for Families – the Plough, Normanton on the Wolds, Nottinghamshire​

Best Pub for Entertainment – the Kings Arms, Bexleyheath, south east London​

Best Pub Garden – Gaggle of Geese, Buckland Newton, Dorset

Best Pub to Watch Sport – the Royal Dyche, Burnley, Lancashire​

Best Sustainable Pub – Stroud Brewery Taproom, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Best Pub Chef – Charlotte Vincent, Candlelight Inn, Chard, Somerset

Best Young Pub Chef – Karl Quirante, the Cricketers, Ormskirk, Lancashire

Community Hero – the Old Abbey Taphouse, Manchester​

Admiral Pub of the Year – Boot & Shoe, Ackworth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire​

Stonegate Pub of the Year – the Woodman, Ruislip, north west London​

Greene King Pub of the Year – the Stag, Lyndhurst, Hampshire​

Marston’s Pub of the Year – Rose & Crown, Worcester, Worcestershire​

Punch Pub of the Year – the Plough, Prestbury, Gloucestershire