Dogs & Restaurants

2blue4u

2blue4u

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Can someone confirm that dogs aren't allowed in restaurants in this country?

'er indoors and myself stopped off at a small country town restaurant yesterday midday'ish on the way back from Essex. The food was fantastic. But the chef's efforts were spoiled by everything else going on in the restaurant. The restaurant was cold, the food took 50 minutes to arrive, waiters (2) didn't approach the table or even make eye contact except when taking the order and eventually delivering it. I saw that the locals mostly brought their Sunday newspapers with them - knowing of the delay.

And then, to cap it all, one couple turned up with a couple of small dogs in tow - one of which stood with its front paws on the table. :bang: This was clearly in the restaurant section and not the pub section. Surely this isn't allowed in this country?
 
Perhaps they had brought them to eat knowing they had a long wait in store :)

Matt
 
I donot htink it is suppossed to be allowed h&s and all that BUT if they where local and you where in a small town then it was prob a case of they do that every day and so the owners let them because they are local and prob friends/or small town attitude

I know it is wrong and it would really grind on me too.

Spike
 
I've a feeling that it's only food prep areas where dogs are banned by law. Elsewhere it's up to the owner of the premises if they let dog in or not. The exception is assistance dogs which have to be allowed access under the DDA.
 
It's quite common to see dogs in restaurants here in France and I presume the rules are similar if not the same.

Bob
 
Dogs would not be allowed in the kitchen or serving area, but anywhere else in the public part of the restaurant would be down to the owner of the establishment to decide on.
 
Canon Bob said:
It's quite common to see dogs in restaurants here in France and I presume the rules are similar if not the same.

Bob
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its quite common to see horse in restaurants in france as well, on the menu though obviously.

and i can confirm that dogs are also allowed in restaurants in south korea....:naughty:
 
I was in the hotel and restaurant business until 10 years ago and remember being told by the Environmental Health Officer that dogs were categorically NOT permitted in any food service area (with the exception of guide dogs). I couldn't quote the regulation now but I doubt they will have relaxed it in this ever increasingly regulatory society! A quiet call to the local EHO should ensure a visit to the establishment in question!
 
Flashman said:
that dogs were categorically NOT permitted in any food service area (with the exception of guide dogs).
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That was my take on it. I thought this has been so for about twenty years now.
 
TBH, I would rather see WELL BEHAVED dogs in restaurants than many children.
 
My god the world's gona end. What harm is there as long as they were kept under control and weren't being a nuisance .This country is going to grind to a halt with this sort of thing .Not aloud to this ,can't do that in case this happens .
 
A quiet call to the local EHO should ensure a visit to the establishment in question!

Why?
 
we noticed how common practise it is in france as well
also love the fact that you can get a big mac large fries and a stella in mcdonalds
 
I spent a weekend in Snowdon at the end of last year, and visited a cafe. I went in and ordered whilst I left my other half outside with our dog. The woman behind the counter said we could come in and bring the dog in with us but we insisted on being seated outside. I wa actually surprised that they were requesting we went inside tbh.
 
Flashman said:
dogs were categorically NOT permitted in any food service area (with the exception of guide dogs).
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I have to say that made me laugh - the thought of a chef who needs a guide dog. "Mind your fingers with that knife!" <- this needs to be said with a "Walls Sausages Dog" voice

mxfun said:
My god the world's gona end. What harm is there as long as they were kept under control and weren't being a nuisance .This country is going to grind to a halt with this sort of thing .Not aloud to this ,can't do that in case this happens .
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The harm is this part of the statement:
2blue4u said:
one of which stood with its front paws on the table.
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Sorry - but that's just plain disgusting. If I came into a resaurant, took my shoes off, wiped my ass on them, then spread them over the table you were about to eat from, would you think that's ok? :shake:
 
I always thought it was only prep areas that they where banned from, i.e kitchen's, or food counters etc.
A quick google and i couldnt find much other then a website that lists 'Dog Friendly' places.
http://www.dogfriendlybritain.co.uk/directory.asp?ID=2

Must be upto the management as to weather dogs are allowed.
 
my dog used to sit on a chair at the table when we ate in my local country pub, never a problem, untill she realised there was a doggy bag being made then started whining and people were wondering whee the gremlin was hiding, she is only a cocker spaniel!
 
Few pubs and cafes around these parts that have resident dogs and have bowls out for visiting dogs. Can't see the problem myself, as said above would much rather a dog than screaming kids on many occasions.
 
mxfun said:
My god the world's gona end. What harm is there as long as they were kept under control and weren't being a nuisance .This country is going to grind to a halt with this sort of thing .Not aloud to this ,can't do that in case this happens .
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Ditto! Seems to me that some of the things on two feet present a much bigger hazard than those on four feet.
 
OutLore said:
Sorry - but that's just plain disgusting. If I came into a resaurant, took my shoes off, wiped my ass on them, then spread them over the table you were about to eat from, would you think that's ok? :shake:
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Never been anywhere where someone sat at a table in a café or restaurant and crapped in their pants? When that happens, it's fairly common for a (usually female) member of the party to pick the offender up and spread the vile odour throughout the establishment as she goes to change poor little *insert brat name*'s nappy.

If I was somewhere and a dog put its paws on MY table, I wouldn't be impressed but I also wouldn't include that dog in the well behaved section!
 
mxfun said:
A quiet call to the local EHO should ensure a visit to the establishment in question!

Why?
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Because it's their job to enforce the regulations.

EHO's have wide ranging powers including the power to close restaurants on the spot if they see fit. Most restaurateurs live in fear of a visit from the EHO but I generally found them to be very helpful and full of practical and sensible advice... there was always the occasional Hitler type though!

I suspect that the banning of dogs from food service areas would stem from the risk (albeit small) from toxocariasis... and nobody wants ANY risk of their kids going blind.
 
Some places are allowed to decide themselves, hence some indoor pubs allowing dogs etc. But usually onl the condition the dogs don't exactly do what those stupid people allowed theirs to cos it is just a little rude, however I'd love to be able to see more dogs in places.

EDIT: and I do agree with mxfun
 
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Just double checked with a couple of colleagues, its been a while since I did food inspections as the profession has become specialised now, there is no provision for excluding dogs from the public areas of an establishment, such choices would be made by the proprietor. Dogs are, as I've already said, not in allowed kitchens or food prep areas.

Hope this clears it up.
 
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I'd drop them an email of complaint (especially if they're a chain) - the last two places I had bad experiences with got a constructive, but slightly snotty email. The end result in both cases was a free meal for 2 with drinks!! :)
 
Flashman said:
I suspect that the banning of dogs from food service areas would stem from the risk (albeit small) from toxocariasis... and nobody wants ANY risk of their kids going blind.
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The only risk of that is if kids are allowed to scoop up dog poop and smear it on their face and in their mouth.
No one is at risk of it just by a dog being present.
Personally I would`nt take my own dogs into a food place, not because of ott misplaced idea`s about cleanliness but out of respect for anyone who might have dander allergies.
Re the dogs mentioned in the opening post and any others people might want to go running to the authorities about not all assistance dogs are guide dogs, for all anyone knows they could be hearing dogs for the deaf, and many dogs alert to seizures which can enable their owners to actually have a life by being with them wherever they go. Less assumption and fingerpointing and a bit more tolerance would be nice, there are a heck of a lot worse things in the world than a dog being in a public building.
 
OutLore said:
I have to say that made me laugh - the thought of a chef who needs a guide dog. "Mind your fingers with that knife!" <- this needs to be said with a "Walls Sausages Dog" voice


The harm is this part of the statement:

Sorry - but that's just plain disgusting. If I came into a resaurant, took my shoes off, wiped my ass on them, then spread them over the table you were about to eat from, would you think that's ok? :shake:
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So the dog rubbed it's ass on the table .... food must be crap then :D what a clever doggy.You need you chill spence man
 
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rally-media said:
I spent a weekend in Snowdon at the end of last year, and visited a cafe. I went in and ordered whilst I left my other half outside with our dog. The woman behind the counter said we could come in and bring the dog in with us but we insisted on being seated outside. I wa actually surprised that they were requesting we went inside tbh.
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Dogs aren't as dirty a some think ,being a dog owner you should know that ,if it's obedient then whats the problem
 
A local "Indian" restaurant ejected a female customer because she had her guide dog with her, the rest of the sizeable party left, as did we. The place got a lot of negative publicity in the local paper,shame, cause the food was pretty good although the service was cack.
I personally wouldn't take our dog into anywhere we were going to eat, but he does like a trip to the pub.
 
I personally wouldn't take our dog into anywhere we were going to eat, but She does like a trip to the pub.[/QUOTE]:thumbs:

Also stay at some good hotels all over Britain, general rule is `dogs in bedrooms and bar area, but not in public rooms or restaurant`

Most have a few rooms for people with dogs, keeping the other rooms dog free, as some people have allergies if a dog as been in, a rule I agree with,

A large number of people take the dogs on country type holidays and breaks now, and we find more and more saying well behaved dogs welcome / no children
 
I was under the impression, and Marks post concurs, that the law states dogs are not allowed in food prep areas, and it only applies to food service areas where the kitchens/prep areas are actually part of the restaurant, not in a separate room.

Like Nod and few others, and especially here in certain areas of the Metrolop, I would much prefer several dogs in the restaurant to one screaming brat and its obnoxious parents. No, I dont think dogs should be allowed to put their feet on the table, and if I was a restaurant owner I would ask them to control their dogs or leave.

That link to dog friendly hotels btw does, or did last year, include some places that do actually allow dogs into the dining rooms and even have 'special menus prepared by chef that your best friend can enjoy while you tuck into our special cuisine' ...or words to that effect.
 
FLASHMAN.........I like your style, as I gave the lead to your advert, do I get a discount :naughty:

Seriously; Ive saved it as we like to get to that area once a year.
 
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