Dog-Friendly Skegness

We're in an era when dog-friendly holidays are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, over half of pet owners travel with their pets, which makes pet-friendly accommodation a growing industry.  52% of travellers say they only stay in pet-friendly properties, and I'm one of those people. 

If my furbaby can't go, then I don't want to either. There's a reason we pick Skeggy for our holiday destination every year, and it's because of all the places we can go with our shih tzu Lia.

Haven Holiday Park

We've stayed at Haven in Skegness for the last two years. It's within a walkable distance to the beaches and the seafront. There's a small dog park where you can take your pets for a little run around. There are tables and benches with an outdoor bar and a place where you can get sweet treats. The pub on the grounds has a dog-friendly section too. Dogs aren't allowed in the shop, the arcade or, unsurprisingly, the entertainment and swimming areas, but they can go to enough parts to make it a good place for us. 

We've stayed at some other places in Skegness before we found Haven, but with a dog, it just didn't work. There was a lovely guest house that treated Lia like a treasured guest, but we struggled without a fridge to keep her food chilled, and she was unsettled by the noises through the building. 

Before that, there was a hotel where we were put in the back of beyond for breakfast because we had a dog, and she wasn't allowed anywhere other than our room. Not even in the hotel gardens. We never went back there.

For my dog, I want a place that is dog-friendly, not dog-tolerant. It's Lia's holiday too. So far, Haven is that place for us.

Arcades

Some of the arcades are dog-friendly. Others aren't. They generally have signs up to tell you when your dog isn't welcome. We found a couple where Lia was allowed. One of them, we couldn't go in because you had to be over eighteen, and my son is about seventeen years shy of that. The other, Lia, was allowed in, but she had to be carried or in a dog stroller. We went in that one, but we didn't keep Lia in there for long because it was loud and bright. Still, it was good to be able to take my little boy to play on the two-penny slots, even for a little while. 

Food and Drink 

Doughnuts, ice cream, fish and chips, Malibu and Coke slushies: all good and accessible for people with a dog. There are also cafes with tables outside, which are nice to eat at when it's warm. If you want to eat inside, because let's face it, this is Britain, and sometimes it rains even in the summer, I know of a couple of places that welcome dogs.

We had one meal at The Richmond Arms, which is part of the Haven Park, and the other meal we ate was at Wolfies. It's a nice casual restaurant. Obviously, dogs aren't allowed on the furniture, which is pretty standard and understandable, and Lia sat nicely on the floor. 

Another dog-friendly option is The Marine Boathouse. We visited there last year, but unfortunately, we didn't manage to fit it in this time. However, if you want to eat out with your pet, it's another option. 

A Favourite Destination 

Skegness is a place we go to every year, because it's so good for pets. After all, it's Lia's holiday too, so she gets to play in the sea, eat treats and have fun with us. She's my best girl, and I'm a proud dog-mum because she behaves so well everywhere she goes.

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