It's a Dog's Life Down at Ashdown Park

Canines can now check into a country house hotel and enjoy the same taste of luxury as their owners. For the first time in its 14-year history Ashdown Park has opened its doors to four-legged guests.

Harvey, pictured with chef de rang Eloise Boutier, was the first hound to experience the new service and gave it the paws up.

Pampered pooches get their own bed, bowl, ball or toy and special doggy menu with a choice of dishes including breast of organic chicken or grilled fresh fillet of white fish, both served with boiled long grain rice. Alternatively, the hotel chef can prepare a pre-ordered ‘furry friend’s favourite dinner’ using ingredients that form part of the dog’s regular diet. Room service will deliver meals at the usual feeding time.

The hotel at Wych Cross, near Forest Row, also offers dog listening and dog walking services and guests are welcome to exercise the pets on the estate.

The doggy tariff is available for the hotel’s ground floor Fairway Suites, which all have patio doors opening out onto the hotel’s 186-acre estate in the heart of the Ashdown Forest. Canine rates cost £30 per night and include one meal a day.

Ashdown Park General Manager Ben Booker said: “The forest offers 14,000 acres of wonderful walking country and over the years we have received requests from dog owners who want to bring their pets with them to enjoy the countryside, rather than leaving them at home or in kennels. So we decided it was time to do something about it.

“The self-contained Fairway Suites are ideal for dogs as they have a large bedroom and sitting room and open straight out into our grounds. If owners want to take time out by themselves we are happy to provide a dog listening service and take dogs out for walks. In short, we want to offer them all the creature comforts they would expect in a country house home from home.”

For further information on canine accommodation at Ashdown Park call 01342 824988.