Bury St Edmunds in Dog Friendly Town Finals 2023

Bury St Edmunds has made the finals of the DogFriendly Awards 2023 in the Most Dog Friendly Town/City category.

The awards run by Dog Friendly Magazine, will take place at The Kennel Club HQ, in London, on November 29. The three finalists are Bury St Edmunds, Eastbourne and Girvan.

With dog-friendly accommodation, cafes and restaurants, plus attractions and days out that your pooch will love, the historic town and surrounding towns and villages are the ideal place to enjoy a short break or holiday with every member of the family – including the furry variety.

The town has had its own Dog Friendly Bury St Edmunds scheme for the last five years to let visitors know where you can bring your four-legged pal. More than 100 businesses have signed up.

Wherever the #dogfriendlybse paw print logo sticker is displayed in windows, businesses will welcome dogs in a town-wide and beyond initiative from Bury St Edmunds Town Council, Camp Tails Doggy Daycare, Our Bury St Edmunds BID (Business Improvement District) and Bury St Edmunds and Beyond. 

Dog Friendly businesses in the town centre are also marked with a blue paw on the Our Bury St Edmunds BID Town Map and there’s a Dog Friendly Businesses Town Trail to enjoy on the LoyalFree Bury St Edmunds app!

The town’s tourism brand Bury St Edmunds and Beyond, now part of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, has also been running a digital marketing campaign throughout the autumn to encourage people (from a two to three hour drive time away) to book a Dog Friendly stay in the town, along with a photo competition for the best photo of a dog in an iconic spot in Bury St Edmunds.

The DogFriendly Awards is an opportunity to recognise and reward dog friendly places and pet businesses that go the extra mile for the benefit of the 12 million UK households that owns a pet dog.

Winners of the DogFriendly Awards (now in its 11th year) in each of the categories are chosen by public vote.

Mark Cordell, the chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, which now includes the town’s official tourism brand Bury St Edmunds and Beyond, said: “It is fantastic that Bury St Edmunds has reached the finals. Not only does Bury St Edmunds welcome dogs in many of our businesses but many go the extra mile offering items on their menus, free snacks for dogs and more and many of our local accommodation businesses offer dog stays too. It means that residents and visitors know that they don’t have to leave their four-legged member of their family at home when they visit the town allowing them to visit and stay longer.”

Jon Kay is the owner of Camp Tails Doggy Daycare and the only hotel for dogs in the town and he founded the Dog Friendly Bury St Edmunds Scheme with former Bury St Edmunds Town councillor Clive Springett.

Jon said: “One of my main goals when we created the scheme was to make Bury St Edmunds recognised as one of the most dog friendly locations in the UK but I didn’t think for a minute we would potentially be recognised by the national dog friendly awards. I’m super proud and excited to be a finalist and have this vision become a reality.”

To find out more about Dog Friendly Bury St Edmunds visit www.dogfriendlybse.co.uk