My Boyfriend Organised a Dog Friendly Proposal!

Hi, my name is Kat, dog mum to Chug and Rudy. This year I got engaged during the most perfect dog friendly weekend getaway. So I wanted to share my lovely story with you all (and who knows, perhaps inspire someone else planning a proposal). For more of our adventures head over to our Instagram.

Weekend in Berkshire

We booked our stay for New Years Eve at the Crab&Boar. We have stayed here a number of times before which is why we know it is the perfect relaxing get away for you and your dogs.

It is a countryside bed & breakfast in the heart of West Berkshire. It has a mix of luxury rooms and hot tub suites, all of which are dog friendly. They can provide dog bowls if needed and there are plenty of treats at the bar to spoil our 4 legged friends. We always stay in a hot tub suite as they are on the ground floor and come with their own secure private garden, the perfect dog friendly stay.

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The breakfast menu has everything you could think of but the chefs will also endeavour to meet your every demand to make sure there is something for everyone. There is also a continental breakfast laid out for you to graze on if you wish. Dogs are welcome to join you for breakfast but the hotel also allows you to leave them in your room if you prefer.

For many of the ground floor suites, you can see the door to your room from the restaurant which is perfect for the more anxious dog parent out there. For dinner, the restaurant serves a number of fresh dishes using local produce. We did find the food a bit on the pricey side but the attention to detail and the fuss the staff made of the dogs was definitely worth it.

Visiting Newbury

The hotel is surrounded by miles of fields and countryside, it is a beautiful location. Prior to travelling we had done some research of the local area and discovered a pub which we could stop in for lunch. Ye Olde Red Lion is 2.5miles from the hotel.

With some guidance from the hotel staff we were on our way. When we arrived we saw a sign in the window which read “Well behaved dogs welcome” so we knew we could take our boys in with us. We stopped for a light lunch and the staff were so excited to meet the dogs. They rushed straight over with a fresh bowl of water for the dogs. It really was the perfect pit stop.

The Proposal

Then it was time to make our way back to the hotel. At this point we did get ourselves a little bit lost but the surroundings were so lovely we didn’t really mind. Eventually we found our route and we were on our way. Surrounded on all sides by miles of fields, the dogs were roaming free and loving life.

As we walked along my boyfriend stopped and looking nervous he dropped on to one knee. Asking me to be his wife surrounded by our two boys I could not have asked for anything more perfect. At that moment in time we really did feel like the only people in the world. The walk back to the hotel flew by as I was on cloud 9. And what a way to celebrate in a hot tub suite with our 2 dogs. Perfection!

Other Things To Do In Newbury

Although the hotel itself feels like it is in the middle of nowhere there is actually a lot to discover in the local area. For example, Highclere Castle and Donnington Castle are both nearby and both welcome dogs on leads. If shopping and restaurants are more your things then Newbury is just a short 12-minute drive away. For us, we enjoyed just driving around and seeing what we could discover. We stumbled upon Snelsmore Common which was the perfect countryside walk to end our trip away before driving home.

I cannot speak highly enough of the Crab&Boar it really is the most relaxing dog friendly getaway and now of course holds a special place in my heart.

Dog Friendly Proposal

Was your proposal and engagement dog friendly? We would love to hear your stories in the comments below. Nothing more perfect than having your pups by your side!