Hort's Townhouse, Bristol

Hort's Townhouse sits right in the middle of Bristol on Broad Street, and it is one of the few places this central where a dog is a booked-in guest rather than a favour. The rooms are above a pub in a handsome old townhouse, and the property sets out its dog arrangements in unusual detail before you arrive - which, for anyone who has spent an evening ringing round city hotels, is most of the battle.

Dogs stay in the Deluxe King Room, and only that room, so it is the booking to make rather than an upgrade to ask about later. The charge is £25 per room per night and stays the same whether you bring one dog or two, up to a limit of two. The room is set up for them as well, with a dog bed or blanket, a water bowl and treats provided, so the boot does not have to carry the whole kit.

The building suits some dogs better than others. There is no lift, so stairs are the only way up, which is a real consideration for an older or heavier dog. Rooms are reached through a separate entrance on a key card at any hour, including after the pub has closed, so a late-night walk or an early start is straightforward. Sound does carry between rooms, so a dog that answers corridor noise may find it unsettling, and parking is off-site rather than at the door.

The location is the real argument for it: the harbourside, the shops and a good spread of dog-friendly pubs are all walkable, and the food here is well regarded, which saves hunting for somewhere that will take a dog at dinner. It earns a 4.4/5 paw rating - a cautious figure, because the welcome here is set out by the property rather than reported back by owners who have used it. Best suited to a couple on a city break with one or two settled dogs who can manage stairs and a bit of pub-building noise.