Pear Tree Café

Pear Tree Café is a relaxed café inside Ashton Hall Garden Centre in Lancaster, where dogs are welcome inside. It’s a lovely spot for lunch, cake and a brew after browsing the plants, garden essentials and gifts — with no need for anyone to wait outside with the dog.

Numerous water bowls are scattered around, and staff are always happy to refill or refresh them when needed. Well-behaved dogs may also find themselves offered a treat by a member of the team, particularly if they’ve perfected the appropriate hopeful expression.

For something more substantial, the café can cook sausages especially for dogs and serves Wallings dog-friendly ice cream. With free parking at the garden centre, it’s an easy choice for a dog-friendly lunch or rainy-day outing just outside Lancaster, although persuading your dog to leave after sausages and ice cream may be another matter entirely.