Doggy Dining: Nearly half of new dog owners take their pooch everywhere
- OpenTable survey reveals that 61% of British diners are booking ahead to secure top outdoor spots this summer*
- Dogs really are a man’s best friend, with nearly half (46%) of UK men surveyed refusing to dine out without their dog, even if it means missing out on a special occasion
- Of those who welcomed a dog into their family in the past two years, 42% take their pet with them every time they socialise
- With temperatures rising across the UK, OpenTable reveals its Top 50 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining** this summer
LONDON, July 2022: As temperatures soar, OpenTable reveals that 61% of British diners surveyed are booking ahead to secure sought-after outdoor tables this summer. This figure increases to 71% among Gen Z and male diners.
New research from OpenTable also unveils the average UK diner is most likely to choose a pub garden (59%) for enjoying a meal alfresco, followed by a beachfront (32%) and a courtyard (28%), with rooftop bars coming in at just 18%.
When dining with dogs this summer, just under half (49%) of Brits surveyed will only take their pet with them if they’re eating outdoors. The most common struggle owners report facing is finding a pet-friendly restaurant (48%), followed by keeping their pet in the shade (43%), keeping their pet comfortable (33%) and keeping their pet hydrated (30%).
Dogs really are a man’s best friend as over a third (35%) of surveyed Brits refuse to dine at a restaurant that doesn’t accept pets, even if it comes highly recommended and means missing out on a special occasion. Nearly half (46%) of UK men turn down the opportunity to dine out if they can’t bring their furry friend, compared to 27% of UK women.
Findings also show that 42% of new dog owners take their pet with them every time they socialise, including to bars and restaurants, which means newer dog owners are 22% more likely to bring a dog to the party than those who have had their dog for more than two years.
Nearly all (88%) of dog owners surveyed however, are feeling the puppy love, revealing that they’re willing to put their dog’s needs before their own when dining out. Top reasons for doing so include ensuring their pet is comfortable (59%) and ensuring their pet’s health isn’t being put at risk by environmental factors such as overheating (59%).
Whether Brits are looking to dine with their dog or are simply seeking to enjoy the warm weather, OpenTable’s Top 50 Outdoor Dining list provides the perfect options for prospective diners nationwide. With a variety of dog-friendly options, from Cornwall’s The Bank at Bude to York’s Ate O’Clock, diners can rest assured that both themselves, and their furry friend, will find the ideal alfresco dining location. When using OpenTable, diners also have the option to filter restaurant options by ‘outdoor dining’ to help them find the perfect spot.
Robin Chiang, VP EMEA, OpenTable comments: “As the warm weather continues and diners across the UK look to secure those outside spots, our Top 50 Outdoor Dining list highlights the range of brilliant restaurants that are perfect for personalised dining, alfresco.”
The complete Top 50 list can be viewed here and below.
List of the UK’s Top 50 Outdoor Dining Restaurants 2022 in alphabetical order:
| Albert’s Standish | British | Manchester / Greater Manchester | |
| Applebee’s Fish | Seafood | London | |
| Ate O’Clock | British | Yorkshire | Dog friendly |
| Bill’s Restaurant & Bar – Kingston | Breakfast | London | |
| Bird In Hand | British | Surrey | Dog friendly bar area |
| Boro Bistro | French | London | |
| Branca | Italian | Oxford / Oxfordshire | |
| Bucks Bar – Trongate | American | Glasgow / Lanarkshire | Dog friendly |
| Cranside Kitchen Garden | International | Glasgow / Lanarkshire | Dog friendly |
| Down the Hatch – South Queensferry | Canadian | Edinburgh / Midlothian | Dog friendly |
| Dukes 92 | British | Manchester / Greater Manchester | |
| Fleur de Lys | Gastro Pub | Warwickshire | |
| Gather | British | Dumfries and Galloway | |
| Gees | Mediterranean | Oxford / Oxfordshire | |
| GOGOS Waterfront Restaurant | British | Berkshire | Dog friendly |
| Jolly Fisherman at Craster | Gastro Pub | Newcastle and Northumberland | Dog friendly |
| La Goccia | Italian | London | |
| Lussmanns – Harpenden | Modern European | Hertfordshire | |
| McLarens on the Corner | British | Edinburgh / Midlothian | Dog friendly |
| Parsonage Grill | Contemporary British | Oxford / Oxfordshire | |
| Quod Restaurant & Bar | European | Oxford / Oxfordshire | Dog friendly |
| Red Lion – Grantchester | British | Cambridge / Cambridgeshire | |
| Rooftop Gardens | Contemporary British | Norfolk / Suffolk | |
| The Bank At Bude | Tapas / Small Plates | Cornwall | Dog friendly |
| The Black Swan Ockham | British | Surrey | Dog friendly |
| The Boatman | British | Berkshire | Dog friendly bar and terrace |
| The Britannia Richmond | Gastro Pub | London | |
| The Cherry Tree | British | Manchester / Greater Manchester | |
| The Crabtree | Gastro Pub | London | |
| The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub | British | Yorkshire | Dog friendly |
| The Drumming Snipe | British | Surrey | Dog friendly |
| The dun cow | Modern European | Norfolk / Suffolk | Dog friendly |
| The Ewe and Lamb | British | Worcestershire | |
| The Ferry Inn | Gastro Pub | Mid Wales | Dog friendly |
| The Fleece Inn | Home cooking | Worcestershire | |
| The Folly | British | Oxford / Oxfordshire | |
| The Fox at Willian | Gastro Pub | Hertfordshire | |
| The Granary Square Brasserie | Contemporary British | London | |
| The Grange Restaurant & Gift Shop | British | Buckinghamshire | Dog friendly |
| The Greene Oak | British | Berkshire | Dog friendly bar |
| The Ivy in the Lanes | Breakfast | Brighton | |
| The Jolly Sailors | British | Norfolk / Suffolk | Dog friendly |
| The Locksbrook Inn | Gastro Pub | Bath / Somerset | Dog friendly |
| The Old Inn | British | Dorset | Dog friendly |
| The Old Thatched Cottage | Steakhouse | Bath / Somerset | |
| The Terrace Restaurant RHS Garden Wisley | British | Surrey | |
| The Throckmorton | British | Warwickshire | Dog friendly bar area |
| The Weeping Willow | British | Norfolk / Suffolk | |
| The White Hart at Fyfield | British | Oxford / Oxfordshire | |
| Woodforde’s Brewery Tap at The Fur & Feather Inn | British | Norfolk / Suffolk | Dog friendly |
For those looking to enjoy summer dining of a different kind, OpenTable has also revealed their selection of Bottomless Brunches and London Greats [INSERT LINKS]. Inviting London diners to explore iconic eateries and have fun in the city sun this summer, OpenTable is here to help diners plan their summer of dining.
-ENDS-
For more information or to talk to an OpenTable spokesperson please contact:
opentable@wcommuncations.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
*According to a OnePoll survey of 1,000 people, representative of UK adult dog owners, carried out in the UK between 13/07/2022 and 15/07/2022
**OpenTable’s Top 50 Outdoor Dining Restaurants in the UK is generated from over 1.6 million verified OpenTable diner reviews collected between 01/05/21 and 30/04/22
About OpenTable:
OpenTable, part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), connects more than 1 billion people with restaurants every year, helping power hospitality at more than 50,000 restaurants, bars, wineries, and other venues in more than 80 countries. With software that drives reservations, experiences, payments, guest insights and operations, OpenTable enables restaurants to run their most successful business yet.
London Specific:
In true British fashion, the average London diner is most likely to choose a pub garden (55%) for enjoying a meal outside in the summer heat, followed by a beachfront (41%) and a courtyard (37%) or rooftop bar (37%), with patio (35%) and street dining (35%) being the least favourable.