As part of our campaign to make Sussex the most dog-friendly county in the country, I took my dog on a day out to Lewes to see how welcoming it is to our four-legged friends – and I wasn’t disappointed.
Dolly, a three-year-old Romanian Rescue, goes most places with me.
Being a high-energy dog who absolutely loves people, she is always more than happy to come out on trips with me, no matter how tiring, as it almost definitely guarantees her getting fuss and treats from strangers.
We incidentally ended up sitting by the huge jar of treats (Dolly was delighted) which were placed next to the restaurant’s ‘canine code’, including rules such as: ‘canine chums should be kept on a tight leash’ and ‘no paws on the furniture’. While we enjoyed our time here, it was very loud and busy, so it may not be a very comfortable environment for nervous dogs. Photo: Megan Baker
6. Dog-friendly day out in Lewes
After sitting down for a while, it was time for a walk at the Railway Land Nature Reserve. The views here were stunning and Dolly loved popping her head over the wall and watching the wildlife along the river. We also saw a very cute little dog who wasn’t afraid to come over and give Dolly a sniff, despite being half the size of her. Photo: Megan Baker
7. Dog-friendly day out in Lewes
Dolly and I then continued our walk through town (which makes for a beautiful walk itself) and ended up at Riverside Cafe for a refreshment. Photo: Megan Baker
8. Dog-friendly day out in Lewes
It was nice being able to sit outside as it meant Dolly didn’t get too restless (although we did have a brief incident with pigeon-chasing, something to keep in mind if your dog has a high prey-drive like mine!) and we were both catered for well – me with a coffee and Dolly with another bowl of water by the entrance. Photo: Megan Baker