1 Barnes Avenue, Margate

1 Barnes Avenue is a self-contained annex on the Westbrook side of Margate, two or three minutes on foot from the seafront and the promenade. It is run as part of a family home, and the family are dog people: dogs arriving here have found a water bowl and poop bags waiting for them, and the hosts' own dog lives on site and is by every account a sociable, good-natured presence.

The property's booking listing does not publish pet terms, so confirm the current arrangement and any charge directly. What guests with dogs describe instead is a real welcome. Dogs are greeted by name, the hosts are happy for them to have the run of the garden, and there is free on-street parking directly outside, which matters more than it sounds when you are unloading a car with a dog in it.

The annex has its own outside seating area and access to a courtyard and garden, along with a mini-fridge, kettle, toaster, tea and coffee, a good shower and fast wifi. The seafront is at the end of the road, Westgate is a walk along the prom, and Margate town centre is fifteen to twenty-five minutes on foot or a few minutes on the bus, with strong transport links in both directions.

Two caveats. The first is the resident dog: most guests count it as a highlight, but a dog that does not do well meeting others in a shared house and garden is not the right fit here. The second is the format. This is an internal annex within a family home rather than a separate cottage, so you will hear the household going about its day, the space is compact, the television is cast-only, and the only sink is a small one in the bathroom, which is awkward if you are washing dog bowls. The hosts leave a jug that fits under the tap and offer to take on any washing up.

Best suited to a couple or a solo traveller with a sociable dog who want a warm, owner-run base a few steps from the sea, and who would rather be part of a household than have a place entirely to themselves. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.