The Elmer, Bognor Regis

The Elmer is a proper village pub that happens to have rooms, and it treats dogs the way the best of them do - as guests rather than as an exception to be managed. Several people arriving with a dog have found a bed or basket, a bowl and treats already set out in the room, which is a level of preparation that costs little but tells you the policy is not just a box ticked at booking.

Dogs are welcome in the pub itself as well as the bedrooms, which is the part that actually shapes a stay. It means you are not eating in shifts or leaving a dog alone upstairs while you have dinner, and the kitchen is worth staying in for: the food and the cooked-to-order breakfast draw consistent praise, and the pub is busy with locals rather than trading solely on its rooms. Staff seem genuinely pleased to see dogs, and owners of large breeds say so most emphatically of all.

Elmer Sands puts the shingle beach a few minutes' walk away, with sports grounds, shops and cafes on the same short circuit, so the morning and evening walks are easy without a car. Bear in mind that dog access to West Sussex beaches is often restricted between spring and early autumn, so check the current local rules for the stretch you plan to use before you travel.

The caveats are modest but worth knowing. The rooms are on the compact side, which is fine for most dogs and noticeably less so for a large breed that likes to stretch out. There is some road noise in the evening that settles down around midnight, the mattresses are on the firm side, and the kitchen has been closed on some Sunday evenings, so guests arriving then have had to drive out for dinner. Worth confirming food service for the night you arrive.

Best suited to couples and solo travellers who want a friendly seaside pub where the dog comes to dinner too. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.