St Valery in Almmouth, Northumberland has been awarded the title of Waggiest Welcome PetsPyjamas 2017 Dog-Friendly Travel Awards, as part of the UK’s leading pet-friendly holiday company’s recognition for the special destinations, who lead the way by offering a truly pet-friendly experience for customers and their Very Important Pets. With the Guide Dogs Great British Dog Survey 2017 revealing that 70% of pet owners like to take their dog on holiday, the Year of the Dog is most certainly set to be the Year of the Holiday Dog, with St Valery and the other 11 award-winning dog-friendly hotspots to choose from.
Setting their standard of excellence to be met by all their travel partners - from five-star hotels to cottages, country houses and stylish pub inns with rooms, PetsPyjamas’ travel awards recognise only the very best, so St Valery and the 11 other winners were judged on the following criteria: 1. Super dog-loving atmosphere and staff at all times; 2. Three or more dog-friendly rooms available to book; 3. Dogs have access to some communal areas and are able to dine with their owners – a special doggie menu would be a bonus!; 4. Dogs are provided with beds, bowls and treats in the hotel room or cottage; 5. Nearby dog-friendly attractions, for example fabulous long doggie walks or a dog-friendly beach.
Described by customers as a dog lover’s paradise, St Valery’s resident dog Roxy welcomes every canine and makes sure there are treats waiting in their room. Furry friends are also provided with beds, bowls and towels to dry off after walks on their neighbouring heritage coast and designated National Landscape.
St Valery owner, Harvey Roberts says: “Having a dog of my own, I completely understand how difficult it can be sometimes to find good quality accommodation when you are away with your dog, so being dog-friendly was really important to me when I was setting up the business nearly two years ago. Northumberland is such a dog- friendly county and the beach we have here in Alnmouth is dog-friendly all year round, which we love sharing with other dog owners.”
Commenting on their win he adds: “I’m really proud of what the team here at St Valery has achieved in less than two years since we first opened and winning the Waggiest Welcome award is absolutely brilliant. Clearly most (if not all) the credit has to be placed firmly at the paws of the most important member of the team – Roxy the resident house dog. Well done Roxy, and keep wagging that tail!”
Co-founder of PetsPyjamas, Karen Hanton comments: “Having sent thousands of dogs and their owners on getaways since the launch of our dog-friendly division in 2014, we understand exactly what is needed to delight canine guests and their owners. We work closely with accommodation partners to create exclusive packages, all-inclusive deals and extras just for the dog, and our awards celebrate this new level of customer service and understanding in the hospitality industry. We believe dogs are very much part of the family and that holidays are much more fun when Fido comes too. The properties we work with share this ethos and have proved themselves to be truly dog-welcoming, going that extra mile with special touches to excite our two and four-legged customers.”
She adds: “We’re thrilled to share and reward those properties that have particularly excelled this year with their own unique brand of dog-friendliness, and St Valery are such deserved winners of the Waggiest Welcome award.”
A who’s who of dog-friendly hotspot, the other winners of The PetsPyjamas 2017 Dog-Friendly Travel Awards winners include Best Dog-friendly Pub with Rooms – The Fontmell, Dorset; Best Luxury Dog-friendly Hotel Award - Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire; Pampered Pet Award - The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Skipton, North Yorkshire; Best for Walkies Award - The Arundell Arms, Devon; Home from Home Award - Moat Cottage at Wilderness, Suffolk; Fido’s Family Award – Fowey Hall Hotel, Cornwall; Best Unique Stay Award - Scamper Holidays, Swansea, Wales; Gourmet Hotel Award - Cliveden House, Berkshire; Best Dog-friendly European Destination - Abbaye de la Bussiere, France; Best Newcomer - Widbrook Grange, Wiltshire and Top Resident Dog - Ston Easton Park, Somerset.
PetsPyjamas is Europe’s number one online pet lifestyle destination where people who love their pets can book from 1,500 truly pet-welcoming hotels, cottages, manor houses,cosy inns and stylish B&Bs around the UK and Europe, with new properties signing up almost every day. With a net promoter score of 77, PetsPyjamas is the leading pet friendly holiday bookers with something for every breed and budget from just £60 and unique dog-friendly weekend break packages you won’t find anywhere else. Pets go free and a complimentary pet travel kit worth £20 are standard for all stays, and all breaks are bookable via PetsPyjamas’ expert Pet Concierges - a dedicated pack of dog lovers and experts, who help their furry customers and owners find the perfect break for them. PetsPyjamas also offers a fabulous collection of over 10,000 pet accessories – all handpicked by in-house pet stylists and curated by breed.
For more information on a pet friendly Northumberland stay, visit our dog friendly adventures page.