Hollins Hall Hotel, Golf & Country Club, Bradford

Hollins Hall is a four-star hotel set in its own grounds on Hollins Hill at Esholt, on the Bradford side of the Aire valley, and the grounds are the whole point if you are arriving with a dog. Owners travelling with pets talk less about the room and more about being able to step outside and walk properly, on the hotel's own land, without getting back in the car. One solo traveller with two dogs liked it enough to extend their stay three times.

Rooms are large and comfortable, and the golf course, pool and spa mean there is something to do while a dog rests after a long walk. Staff get warm reviews from dog owners in particular, and dinner is generally thought good value with a wide breakfast choice. It reads as a hotel where a dog in reception is unremarkable rather than an event.

Not everyone leaves delighted. A returning guest found the place had slipped: a tired room with an unpleasant smell, average breakfast produce and coffee, self-service where there used to be table service, and grounds and a car park that looked past their best. That is worth weighing on its own terms, and one detail in it matters specifically to dog owners, which is that barking carries between rooms. If your dog is vocal when left, or is easily set off by another dog through a wall, plan around it.

Set against that, the pet welcome itself is not in question. No pet fee, weight limit or dog count has been published, so confirm those directly when you book. For owners who want space to walk, a comfortable room and a hotel that takes dogs in its stride, it earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.