The Eastbury Hotel is located the pretty village of Sherborne nestled between green valleys and wooded hills. A cosy dog friendly bolthole, filled with sweet country air, oozing with elegance and luxury accommodation.
We were invited to stay in this pretty little place and had an incredible time exploring Dorset, snuggling in the Potting Shed and dining in style. Our highlight was of course watching the dogs tuck into their very own doggy dinner and breakfast courtesy of the Hotel.
The whole experience was a whirlwind of fun for our dogs and our tails are wagging to share it with you. As a bonus, we’re running a giveaway over on Instagram so your dogs can experience the exact same holiday!
This review is sponsored (gifted), but our opinions and tail-wagging excitement for this place is completely independent.
Furiendly Welcome
En-route to the Eastbury, we stumbled through the prettiest little village, with quaint independent shops, streets lined with traditional sandstone cottages. Wait, was this our stop? We couldn’t believe our eyes! The pretty little village was Sherborne, home of the Eastbury Hotel.
When we arrived at the Eastbury Hotel, we felt like we had found the secret garden. Beautiful flowers adorned the hotel through every nook and cranny, our tails were wagging to see what we had in store.
Inside we were welcomed by the most friendly staff, providing the dogs with their own welcome of fusses.
Upon arrival, we were led to one of the cosy Potting Shed Suite called Parsley, squirrelled away in the garden. When entering the accommodation, we immediately felt at home.
The Potting Shed Suite
The accommodation is light, inviting and surprisingly spacious. Our favourite part was the floor to ceiling patio doors leading onto a private terrace with its own fire pit. Perfect spot for our pooches to sniff the garden air.
The bedroom space has a comfortable bed, and a hidden television that doubles up as a mirror. The en-suite bathroom was complete with a waterfall shower.
The dogs were also in for a treat, with their very own large comfortable bed, snacks, water bowl and adorable welcome letter. Minnie was thrilled with the bed, and claimed it before Charlie could say ‘woof’.
While Minnie made herself at home, Charlie settled down to the dog rules outlined in the welcome letter from Monty the resident Chihuahua. Charlie’s a sucker for the rules, so signed the letter with his paw of honour.
Small, finishing touches gave the suite an extra touch of class and luxury. A bottle of Sloe Gin, a Smeg fridge loaded with a bottle of wine, a Nespresso machine (to help wake you from your Sloe hangover no doubt), this of course accompanied a Smeg Kettle, tasty biscuits and a range of teas.
Evenings in the Potting Shed Suite were truly one-of-a-kind. We could sit in the terrace by the fire-pit, while having the large patio doors open to watch the TV – all snuggled under a cosy blanket. We cracked open the Sloe Gin and slumped into the cosy chairs, whiling the hours away until our dinner reservation came around.
Food & Drink
As we walked into the on-site restaurant (Seasons) with the dogs, we felt warmly welcomed. The staff gave our dogs plenty of fuss and love, while we were busy delighting to the sound of music playing from a live professional pianist. We noticed other pooches wandering in and out of the restaurant. This spoke volumes to us, verifying just how dog friendly this place truly is.
We knew we were in for a treat due to the 2 Rosettes for culinary excellence. Head chef (and renowned Masterchef) Matthew Street and his team dish up a seasonal menu using local suppliers while the fresh herbs are picked from their very own kitchen garden.
The staff were very attentive and professional, and much to the dog’s satisfaction they asked first and foremost if we wanted doggy dinners and water bowls. When it came to our dishes, everything on the menu had us drooling like a British Bulldog as we were truly spoilt for choice.
After ordering our dinner (and the dogs) all that was left to do was sip our fancy drinks and unwind. This intimate dining experience whisked us into a truly luxurious getaway, where we felt relaxed with the comfort of our dogs by our side.
With each course that came, the food was second-to-none. Each meal as aesthetically pleasing on the plate as it was to the palate – bursting with flavours.
Now usually your dog would be looking onto your meal with puppy eyes, but here they can enjoy their very own doggy dinners too. Classic chicken and rice. It looked good enough for us humans to eat. Both our pooches wolfed their meals down, and licked the bowl sparkling clean!
After full bellies, it wasn’t too long before they were both snoozing by our feet to the sound of the piano music coming from the Cocktail Lounge.
Breakfast was also a treat in Seasons, with each table boasting garden views. Dishes ranging from your full English to tasty pastries. Even the scrambled egg was top notch!
What to Do
While this hotel boasts many new modern highlights, it still celebrates old-fashioned standards with the attentive service, a 1960s black London Taxi to ferry guests around and gentle garden pursuits such as billiards and croquet.
Inside the hotel is a dog friendly lounge for you and your pooch to relax, while flicking through a brochure of cool dog friendly places!
Hidden the garden Hobbit hole is the Eastbury Spa. This place includes a hydrotherapy tub, outdoor Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and a mini gym. Plenty of massage or facial options to choose from, which you help you feel restful and renewed. So if you’ve brought someone with you, take it in turns to look after the dogs and enjoy this delightful experience.
While you’re not pottering away in the garden, exploring the inside of the hotel, or indulging in the spa, then we recommend exploring the beautiful village of Sherborne. Crowned as one of the most beautiful towns in England you can enjoy a guided walk around this pretty town. Once you’re done exploring the glorious surroundings, further dog friendly adventures and dog walks await.
Gold Hill and Gold Hill Museum
Just a 30-minute drive away you can find the famous Gold Hill. This place is famous for a 1970s TV advert for Hovis bread which has regularly been voted as Britains favourite. There are many glorious walks to be enjoyed around Gold Hill, with quiet country lanes and views stretching across the nearby hills.
The view looking down from the top of the street has been described as “one of the most romantic sights in England” and often appears on the covers of books, calendars and chocolate boxes. Nearby you can find Gold Hill Museum, where dogs are warmly welcomed.
Weymouth & SandWorld
Weymouth is located at the heart of the Jurassic Coast and has always been a family favourite. With its magnificent Georgian seafront and stretching sands, you and your dog’s will never be short of a bucket and spade full of fun.
A gentle stroll from the beach is the Weymouth’s historic harbour overlooked by quaint restaurants, cafes and craft shops, with only a short stroll to the town’s high street and shopping centre.
We wanted to continue having an out-sanding day, so we took a long stroll to SandWorld. If you love the sand sculptures then this place will tick all of your boxes. SandWorld is a unique art gallery with a difference showcasing enormous, breathtaking, life-sized works of art, created entirely out of sand and water. When we went to visit the theme was Film and TV boasting scenes from Star Wars, Toy Story, Wizard of Oz, Dumbo, Game of Thrones and Back to the 80’s.
Our Verdict
One of the moments that really stood out to us was when they told us how much they strived to be Dorset’s #1 dog friendly hotel. They’ve certainly hit the mark, with their superb attention to detail and attentiveness to our pooches.
This place offers a staycation experience like no other. The luxury Potting Shed Suite gave us the most comfortable snooze, the dogs instantly felt at home and the garden provided that homely touch taking us away from the every-day drivel.
This place offered a taste of sleepy Sherborne life and we can’t wait to re-visit again soon!
