Why Bury St Edmunds is simply PAW-some for doggy visitors!
If you fancy a fabulous day out with your four-legged friend then Bury St Edmunds takes the lead in dog-friendliness. Happy hounds are the order of the day almost everywhere you look in the town centre – so at Our Bury St Edmunds we’ve come up with everything your furry friend needs to follow his wet nose to a waggy welcome. Sniff out the special branded water bowls and window stickers featuring a blue paw on a green background and let your canine caper begin, starting with some of the places mentioned here.
Make no bones about it – Abbeygate Street is a great place to start. At fashion store Javelin you might even get to meet Bailey the Cocker Spaniel pup who’s a new recruit to the team. Just across the road you’ll find Abbeygate Lighting with dog-themed table lamps and paw-fect gifts for pet lovers. Walk down the hill to where Abbeygate Street meets Angel Hill for delicious cakes at dog-friendly coffee house No.5 open every day with outdoor seating too. Not far away in High Baxter Street is the delightfully quirky, independent retro emporium Bohemia Vintage – you may find dog-themed trinkets and so much more.
If you’re looking for quality menswear then Gerald Boughton in the historic Corn Exchange building on Cornhill is the place. It might be a warm sweater for winter dog-walking or cross the road to their Formal Hire shop in The Traverse if you’re looking for a tailcoat or something else for a wedding or black tie evening. When you want to be among the smartest dog-walkers on the street head to Seasalt in the Buttermarket where you’ll find outdoor wear and accessories for all those winter-day walkies. But when the weather is really ‘ruff’ there’s nothing like curling up on the sofa with a good book and that’s where Bury St Edmunds’ Waterstones branches in the Buttermarket or arc Shopping Centre can help. If your favourite novel’s looking a bit dog-eared, now is the time for a new one or if poetry’s your thing there’s bound to be a volume of doggerel to keep you entertained.
Ready to lap up a drink – hair of the dog even? There are plenty of dog-friendly pubs and bars who’ll welcome you and your four-legged friend. The Nutshell in The Traverse is Britain’s smallest pub (open daily) and can be a bit of a squeeze when busy so be careful not to step on anyone’s paws. At the Kings Arms in Brentgovel Street (open every day) the beer garden and al fresco dining area is a great place to enjoy traditional pub fayre with a modern twist or a ruff-reshing drink. And what hound isn’t going to love Baskerville’s cocktail bar and gin lounge in Whiting Street (open Thurs-Sat evenings and Sat-Sun afternoons)?
If you need a legal beagle then also in Whiting Street you’ll find Burnett Barker Solicitors. Candles and fragrances mean nearby gift shop Buy the Light call themselves the ‘smelliest shop in town’ so scent hounds won’t have any trouble finding it although the fragrances will be considerably more pleasant than those that pesky pups often like to roll in. For an evening out with your pooch you’ll get a warm welcome at Queens Bar and Grill in Churchgate Street. Enjoy home-smoked meats in the courtyard garden. It’s open Wednesday-Saturday evenings and during the day on Saturday and Sunday.
Other great places to enjoy a meal or snack in the town centre with your four-legged friend include health and well-being café Primal 8 in Risbygate Street (open Tues-Sat daytime), Belgian beer bar Vespers in St Andrews Street South (open Weds-Sun daytime and evening), Greene King Beer Café (open Tues – Sat daytime) at the brewery on Westgate Street. Verve on Woolhall Street offering pizzas and cocktails welcomes dogs in the daytime and early evening (open Weds – Sat). And when it’s time for a puppaccino head to Bay Tree Café in St Johns Street (open every day).
But there are still more shops to sniff out. Denny Bros Supplies in St Andrews Street South is East Anglia’s largest Arts and Crafts store so you’ll find everything you need for your artists paw-tfolio. And with so many places to visit in the town centre, don’t forget to pick up some doggy treats from Milpets – a family run pet shop in St Johns Street with all the toys and treats a good dog deserves. And although dogs should never eat chocolate, humans most certainly can and there are plenty of treats for humans at Marimba Cocoa House in the Buttermarket.
With so many places to visit in Bury St Edmunds why not park at Ram Meadow long-stay car park and take the opportunity to visit Bury Town Football Club too. Will they be the favourites or the underdogs on matchday? Was that a little whine from your canine chum? He’s probably asking to be taken to independent wine shop Vino Gusto in Hatter Street – where – whether you love red, white or rose, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Wine and cheese are a great combination so when in Hatter Street also pop into nearby The Cheese Hole to find a paw-fect match. After all, every pup knows that the tastiest treat of all is a tiny piece of cheese – or better still a large piece.
At the end of a day of exploring everything that dog-friendly Bury St Edmunds has to offer where better to put your paws up in a spot of luxury, than the Angel Hotel. A number of rooms are dog-friendly for a small additional charge and dogs are also welcome in the lounge (but not the bar or the Eaterie restaurant.) In the morning you can enjoy walkies in the Abbey Gardens opposite. But if you are heading home after your doggy day out and don’t want the trouble of cooking then make sure you pick up a delicious artisan ready meal from LEA in Churchgate Street. You’ll find fresh seasonal modern French dishes that just need heating up and serving straight from the pot.
And remember to download the LoyalFree app where you’ll find over 120 dog-friendly businesses on our special trail, visit www.ourburystedmunds.com or follow our social media channels so you don’t miss anything. We are very grateful to Bury St Edmunds Town Council for supporting the town’s dog-friendly scheme – you’ll find the ‘Dog Friendly Charter on the town council’s website which sets out the responsibilities of both business owners and dog owners including some safety guidelines and rules.
