Bury St Edmunds was recently named the second most dog friendly town in the UK and, as someone who loves nothing more than a day out with my four-legged friend, I decided it was time to put this new accolade to the test.
Cassie, my one-and-a-half-year-old cocker spaniel, can be a bit shy and nervous so a trip to the busy town centre from our more rural home in Sudbury was not something we had yet tried.
Upon arriving one wet and windy December Sunday, and struggling to find a space in a car park presumably filled with Christmas shoppers, we made a beeline for the arc shopping centre where several of the stores welcome dogs.
The 'Dog-Friendly Bury St Edmunds' project, launched in 2018 after a collaboration with the town council, Camp Tails Doggy Daycare, Our Bury St Edmunds BID and Bury St Edmunds and Beyond.
It sees the #dogfriendlybse paw print logo sticker displayed in the windows of more than 100 businesses that welcome canine companions.
In the arc, the shops that allow dogs include New Look, Hotel Chocolat and The Perfume Shop, so it would be quite easy to get a large chunk of your Christmas shopping done with your furry friend in tow here.
Blacks outdoor clothing store even had a filled water bowl next to their welcome matt for pooches that needed to quench their thirst after all of the shopping.
Cassie enjoyed exploring the streets, particularly the Maker's Market in Buttermarket and Cornhill, and the pedestrian-friendly streets made for easy walking even on such a busy day.
Feeling thirsty and slightly cold, we popped into Starbucks and were pleased to see this too was dog friendly, meaning Cassie could sit (somewhat) patiently under the table while we had our hot drinks.
There are plenty of other cafes and restaurants which welcome dogs in Bury St Edmunds, including Edmundo Lounge, Café Kottani and Midgar Coffee.
The town, and the surrounding area, is also home to several parks and estates which make great walking routes for dogs, including the Abbey Gardens and Nowton Park.
Cassie's favourite haunt, a short drive from Bury St Edmunds town centre, is the Ickworth House estate. It is well worth the drive with acres of land and even has a dog-friendly café.
Bury St Edmunds was named runner up in the Most Dog Friendly Town/City category at the DogFriendly Awards 2023 ceremony in London on Wednesday, November 29.
The town was beaten to the top spot by Girvan, in Scotland, which won Gold with Eastbourne taking bronze.
The awards, which are run by Dog Friendly Magazine and are in their 11th year, recognise businesses that go the extra mile to accommodate four-legged friends and the winner of each category is chosen by public vote.
When Bury St Edmunds won silver, Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: "I believe that being a dog friendly destination encourages more dog owners to come into our town centre, stay longer and visit more businesses, than they would if they had to leave their dog at home.
"I would like to recognise the work of Jon Kay from Camp Tails for his contribution to making the scheme such a success."
After our short trip to the town, it was clear to me that Bury St Edmunds is well-deserving of its new title as the second most dog friendly town in the UK.
With so many accommodating shops, restaurants and places to walk, it is a must-visit for owners and pets alike - just maybe pop by after the Christmas rush!
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