Key West

Key West is a dog-friendly café, bar and restaurant sitting right at the end of Bournemouth Pier, about a 10-minute walk from the town centre via the Lower Gardens. Dogs are welcome inside and on the terrace, which means no doorway dithering about who waits outside while everyone else orders.

The café is open every day from 10am, with food and drinks served throughout the day including breakfast, lunch, snacks and cocktails. There is no on-site parking, but the nearest pay-and-display car parks — including Bath Road North and South and the BIC car parks — are just a few minutes' walk away. Dogs must stay on leads inside and on the terrace, water bowls are available on request, and dog treats are sold at the venue.

It is the kind of spot that keeps paws and people together without any fuss, and since dogs can come inside, a rainy seafront day does not mean a retreat to the car. Bournemouth Pier is currently free to enter, which makes it an easy, no-faff stop on a coastal day out.