Wigan pub hopes to be most dog-friendly boozer in Britain

The pub at the heart of the historic canal side community is delighted to welcome tail waggers of every size, shaggyness and description.
Dean McDonald with his dog PeeblesDean McDonald with his dog Peebles
Dean McDonald with his dog Peebles

In fact meinhost at The Crooke Hall Inn, Dean McDonald, believes all his efforts since taking over behind the real ale hand pumps makes it the most dog-friendly boozer in Britain.

Doggies accompanying drinkers can now enjoy:

Specially filled bags of dog treats alongside the packets of dry roasted and crisps for their masters...with proceeds to dog-loving charities.

House cask cider is now the appropriately-named Dog Dancer.

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Newly installed beer garden benches now boast plaques engraved with the names of favourite breeds...helping waiting-on staff ensure hot dogs end up on the right plate!

Hall of Fame’ framed photos of doggy regulars and their owners to adorn one wall.

A new range of house beers from AllGates will have doggy names and themes.

Emergency tins of dog food behind the bar should drinkers forget just why they were supposedly “just popping out with the dog to the shop” several hours earlier!

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Wigan Anglers Club using the pub car park for twice-monthly fishing matches will in future make a regular donation to doggy good causes.

Dean, well known as the former manager of The Orwell pub on Wigan Pier, is passionate about his Border Collie/ Wiemaraner cross Peebles, as well as being a renowned cellarman who tapped his first barrels in the mid 80s.

This August Bank Holiday Weekend’s short notice Crooke Hall Beer Festival will boast 24 guest real ales and a selection of barbecued bangers, with proceeds going to research into Prostate Cancer.

Dean said: “This is born out of the fact that first of all I am a dog lover, I have always had dogs and secondly I have always admired pubs that cater for dog owners. And now I have put all the best bits together that I have seen on my travels and we are creating, I believe, the most dog-friendly pub in the UK. I had walked my dog down here for years along the canal tow path anyway so when I got hold of the reigns I already knew what a good dog place this could be.

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“This place is a great country pub by the canal already which, although owned by AllGates, is the equivalent for me of having a free house because they buy and swap so many beers from other breweries that I have effectively got a choice of selling whatever i want.

Dogs are allowed in our Crooke bar at the front at any time and in the fireside bar dogs are allowed in after 8pm when we have finished serving food.”

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