I’ve always loved a dog friendly UK staycation. My dog is part of the family should get to enjoy adventures with us! I’ve posted many dog friendly hotel reviews on this blog to prove it. However adding a baby to the mix was a whole new ball game for us. For valentines day 2026 we booked a stay at the Barnsdale Hotel in Rutland for a family night away, all 3 of us – Myself, my husband, our 11 month old baby and 3 year old Springador, Honey.
About the Barnsdale Hotel, Rutland
The Barnsdale has been on my list of dog friendly hotels to try for a while. Ever since I went there for an afternoon tea on my birthday in 2024. We dined in the bar with our dog and thought wouldn’t it be great to come back and stay properly, as it is so dog friendly.
We also recently attended a wedding and had a fantastic stay at one of their sister hotels, The Retreat at Elcot Park. Since that first visit, the Barnsdale completed construction on their Signet Spa too, another draw to return.
The Barnsdale is a very short distance away from Rutland Water. Rutland Water is a fantastic spot in the midlands for walking, cycling, and dog friendly days out. So the hotel is a perfect base for outdoor adventures, relaxing in the spa, or delicious dining in their restaurant. It even has a barn for hosting events too.
It is a recently refurbished country house hotel with a modern, boutique feel. There is a mix of cosy rooms and larger suites—some with terraces or garden access which is great for dogs. Prices range from £140–£300 per night depending on room and season.
Our Family Room
We stayed in a family room, which is actually 2 connected bedrooms each with their own ensuite. The adult room was very spacious with a king size bed, 2 armchairs and a TV. The children’s room was thoughtfully decorated in a playful manner. It is a slightly smaller room, featuring bunkbeds, a chest of draws, arm chair and their own TV as well. A lovely additional touch was a child’s story book on each bed. This suite was the perfect base for our little stay.
Given that we had a baby, we used the children’s room to set up our travel cot, which there was plenty of space for. We did take our own travel cot to avoid an additional charge to rent one. Personally I don’t really understand why the smallest of humans has to pay extra for a bed for the night. Our dog Honey slept in her crate in our bedroom, which again there was plenty of space for.
Dining at 1760 Brasserie
We had an extremely positive experience dining at 1760 Brasserie – the restaurant at the Barnsdale Hotel, Rutland. Part of the restaurant seating is tucked inside a beautiful orangery, with atmospheric lighting at night time. It is a very dog friendly restaurant and bar. We saw numerous guests with a dog tucked under the table while they drank or dined.
All hotel guests are entitled to a complimentary 4pm tipple. So shortly after checking in we headed to the bar to see what was on offer, and were served a glass of red wine each.
We returned back for our 6pm dinner booking. Nice and early before the baby’s bedtime. We tried to choose a table on the periphery of the restaurant as we didn’t want our child to disturb other diners, particularly as it was valentines day. After voicing this concern we were reassured by the waitress that our baby was an equally welcome guest.
Everything we had to eat was delicious, and the service was excellent. The atmosphere managed to balance relaxed and inviting, but still felt like a special experience. Not just a regular pub dinner, it was a special restaurant experience.
The Signet Spa
The Signet Spa is a newly constructed addition to the hotel. It features a heated outdoor pool, 3 wood fired hot tubs, and a small sauna. There is also a treatment area, and a main spa reception with a relaxation room. The small size of the spa makes it feel quite boutique and luxury in my opinion. Dogs are NOT permitted to join you at the spa, and will need to stay in your room.
Unfortunately, the Spa is where we had our only issue at the Barnsdale. We planned to check in and use the spa for the afternoon (taking it in turns to go while the other person watched the baby and dog). However, my husband was turned away and advised the spa was at capacity. The spa staff said we should have received an email from the hotel reception upon booking to arrange a time slot for the spa, which we did not.
When complaining at hotel reception, they advised that actually the spa is supposed to ring guests after booking to arrange this spa slot. Whatever the correct process was supposed to be, it didn’t happen. This lead to about 6 or 7 hotel guests in the reception complaining at check in after finding out they wouldn’t be able to use the spa. After all, most people booking a spa hotel for valentines day expect to use the spa!
The hotel managed to arrange a spa slot for us the next morning. Although I enjoyed the experience and was impressed with the facilities, It felt like a rushed experience before checking out, rather than the relaxing afternoon we had planned. My biggest tip is to ensure you have a spa slot booked before your arrival!
Final Verdict
I would 100% go and stay at the Barnsdale Hotel Rutland again. Despite mix ups over spa bookings, we had a fantastic stay. I felt totally welcome and comfortable in all the common spaces, even with our dog and baby in tow. The room was lovely and spacious and we easily made ourselves at home. Every dining experience: dinner, breakfast and our afternoon tipple, were delicious. It is the perfect place for a little dog friendly break in the countryside. I would highly recommend giving it a try!
Dog Friendly Hotel Recommendations
Checkout all my other dog friendly hotel reviews on the blog, from Cornwall to the highlands of Scotland.
- Knockderry House: A Warm Scottish Welcome For You And Your Dog
- Una St Ives: The Best Dog Friendly Lodges in Cornwall
- The Tawny Hotel: Romantic Dog Friendly Glade Hut Experience
- A Dog Friendly Break In the Lake District: Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat
Also checkout my round up of the best Cotswolds dog friendly hotels:
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