Key West

Key West is a dog-friendly cafe and restaurant on Bournemouth Pier, about a 10-minute walk from the town centre via the Lower Gardens. Dogs are welcome inside and on the terrace, which makes it a practical stop before or after a seafront wander without the usual doorway dithering about who waits outside. Water bowls are available on request and the venue sells dog treats too, so hopeful noses may approve.

The cafe sits right on the pier with easy access from the promenade, making it a handy paws-included option for lunch or a snack during a coastal day out. The nearest pay-and-display car parks, including Bath Road North and South and the BIC car parks, are a few minutes' walk away. Dogs need to stay on leads inside and on the terrace, which keeps the lead-and-bag logistics straightforward.

It's the sort of spot that keeps everyone together and takes the guesswork out of planning a dog-friendly stop near the seafront. Useful when the weather turns theatrical, too, since dogs can come in and nobody needs to retreat to the car or split up the group.