The landlord of a pub with a special menu just for dogs admits his city centre inn is “probably not the place” for punters who don’t like pooches.
The Thomas Becket in Canterbury has been thrust into the spotlight after its canine-exclusive cuisine – featuring roast dinners and even Paw Star Martinis – went viral.
But while catering for hungry hounds has won the pub a host of animal-loving fans, some cynics say dogs have no place in a venue serving food.
Publican Chris Lurcook, however, says his pet-friendly approach is here to stay, saying dogs will still be seen sitting on stools and feasting at tables at the 18th-century boozer.
Such is his commitment, that the walls of the pub are even bedecked with more than 500 polaroids of previous furry visitors.
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Explaining why his Best Lane establishment is so animal-focused, Mr Lurcook said: “When we came here originally, we struggled to find somewhere that was dog-friendly enough.
“Usually pubs are dog-friendly, but only in the garden, or only in that corner, or you must have it on a lead.
“I wanted to make it a place where pets could come off the lead and have their own menu.”
Mr Lurcook first started dishing up ‘pup grub’ after taking over the business in 2022.
The food is supplied by Sir Woofchesters and largely made of naturally flavoured biscuit and kibble.
As well as dishes for £5, owners can also feed their hungry pets ice cream, £3 ‘martinis’, £1 snacks, and even a £6.50 meal deal.
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The menu includes a ‘roast dinner’ of dry dog food made up of chicken, sweet potato and peas, served with drumstick-shaped treats comprising chicken breast, rice and soy protein.
Elsewhere there are ‘bark burgers’ in the shape of beef and chicken patties that can be washed down with ‘Paw Star Martinis’ – a cocktail of water, coconut sugar, chicken flavouring, vanilla flavouring and passionfruit.
“The doggies get to choose what they want,” 44-year-old Mr Lurcook said.
“Owners who go into a pub on a dog walk often have to go home to feed them.
“Here, they can come in and buy dinner for their pet too.
“People come into the pub and the first thing they ask for is the canine menu.
“If I could monetise the extra custom we get because of all the dog stuff, it would be astronomical.”
Mr Lurcook concedes some customers are not fans of the four-legged friends.
“There’s that old saying, dogs are welcome but humans are tolerated,” he joked.
“We’re not a pub to say no to any pet, but we’re also not a pub to say no to a customer.
“The balance is difficult.
“Most people know that we are dog-friendly, so they will make their decision based on it.
“Some people don’t like them in restaurants or are scared of them, but I’ve never had a dog try to burn my pub down, but I have had children pulling wires and stuff.
“If someone doesn’t like it, this is probably not the place for them.
“The benefits outweigh it though.
“It’s worth the sacrifice of the people that don’t want to eat in a dog-friendly pub.”
Mr Lurcook’s own hound – Jack Russell cross pug Rocco – lives in the pub and can often be seen greeting customers and sitting next to them on chairs.
Dogs are welcome on all the furniture and in all areas of the listed building.
The Thomas Becket’s friendliness towards pups has gained attention on social media.
The dog wall – which even includes a photo of the city’s famous cat Griffin – grew rapidly and the landlord is now running out of space to hang the pictures.
He added: “Someone came in recently and said they found us on TikTok because someone had done a video with the wall and the menu.”
Local blogger Barry Reynolds shared a picture of the menu on Facebook after visiting with his cocker spaniel Murray.
Mr Reynolds, who lives in Folkestone but travels around Europe with Murray, told KentOnline: “One of the problems we have whenever we go anywhere, London or anywhere like that, is getting treats or food.
“So often what you have to do is go to the supermarket, and I don’t like tying my dog up outside because there’s a lot of theft out there.
“So you’re always in a predicament when you have a dog and they need feeding.
“If you can find a pub that offers food, that’s brilliant. And it will increase trade for them as well.
“Most have treats, but it’s not a meal and they aren’t very nutritious.”
Six-year-old Murray visited the Canterbury boozer recently and chowed down on roast dinner and ‘bar burgers’, with all Sir Woofchester meals being grain and wheat-free.
But, the cocker spaniel is “fussy” and did not like the bark beer he was also served at the Thomas Becket.
His owner recalled: “I took him to Marseille once and treated him to rice and salmon costing €18. He refused to eat any of it!”
A spoiled pup, Murray has been to 13 countries on adventures with Barry.
Other than the Best Lane pub, Murray’s favourite dog-friendly Canterbury inns include the White Hart Inn, the Black Griffin and The Lady Luck.
Murray himself has an 8,000-strong following on Facebook, but Mr Reynolds did not expect the huge reaction he received when sharing the menu.
He explained: “I just took the picture randomly.
“I didn’t really expect it, but it’s just been shared so widely.
“95% of people commenting are all in favour and really think it’s a good idea.
“I think there’s a few people who just think it’s horrible, but most people really like it.”
On the post, Sam Doggett commented: “I think it’s great that pubs are doing dog dinners. I think they have realised that walkers, and their dogs, need food after a long walk.
“It’s a good way to bring in new footfall.”
However, not everyone is so on board with doggy diners, with Jessica Bason writing: “Absolutely not! I am a dog lover and owner.
“I am also somebody who works in the food industry.
“Please leave them home, especially when it’s not a service dog.”
Dawn Jones added: “When did we become so entitled that we take our dogs out to dinner?
“It’s ridiculous. Unless it is a service animal it shouldn’t be present at a dinner table.”
Murray enjoyed the service at the Thomas Becket so much he returned three days later to sample the rest of the menu.
Any profits from the sale of Sir Woofchesters meals are donated to charity, with Canterbury-based Angels for Dogs the most recent benefactor.
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
