The Duchess of Cornwall

The Duchess of Cornwall is a four-star inn on Queen Mother Square, the centrepiece of Poundbury on the western edge of Dorchester. The building is new-classical rather than genuinely old, and guests tend to notice it: the architecture comes up almost as often as the food, the service and the size of the rooms. For anyone visiting Dorset with a dog it makes a quieter base than the pubs with rooms in the middle of Dorchester, with parking that guests rate as easy.

Dogs are specifically listed as allowed. Beyond that the property's booking listing publishes nothing at all on pets, so any charge, and any limit on numbers, needs confirming with the inn when you book. Owners travelling with dogs describe rooms large and comfortable enough to settle a dog in without rearranging the furniture, and staff who take the dog in their stride.

There is one recurring wrinkle worth knowing before you arrive. Dogs are kept out of the upstairs restaurant section while being welcome elsewhere, and that boundary has not always been communicated consistently: a dog owner sent upstairs by one member of staff was then asked to leave by another. The rule itself is reasonable enough, and it is the crossed wires rather than the restriction that spoil the moment. Asking at check-in where the dog is and is not welcome takes a minute and heads it off.

Away from the dog question the picture is steady: clean, well-presented rooms, a dining room overlooking the square, food and drink rated as good value, and a quiet residential setting with amenities in walking distance. The occasional gripe covers a tired bed or an average breakfast rather than anything structural.

It suits dog owners who want a comfortable, well-run inn with easy parking and quiet evenings, and who would rather be in Poundbury than in the centre of Dorchester. Anyone hoping to keep the dog beside them everywhere indoors should check the restaurant arrangement first.