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Weymouth LifeDorset

Dog friendly Weymouth

When dogs are allowed on the beach and when they are not, taken from the council's own order rather than from a review. Then the pubs that say dogs are welcome, the parks, and the places a lead is required.

The short answer. No dogs on Weymouth main sand from 1 May to 30 September. All year round you have the dog exercise area beside the Pavilion, and the beach from Greenhill Groyne up to Overcombe. Getting it wrong is a fine of £100, or £75 if paid within 14 days.

The beaches

Every stretch the council names, and what the rule is on it.

Weymouth main sand

1 May to 30 September

No dogs on the main sand in summer, from the dog exercise area by the Pavilion up to Greenhill Groyne. From 1 October to 30 April they are allowed, and off the lead on the sand itself.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Dog exercise area by the Pavilion

All year

Open to dogs all year round. This is the bit of Weymouth beach you can use in August.

Weymouth Town Council, checked 6 September 2026

Greenhill Groyne to Overcombe

All year

Open to dogs all year round, summer included.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Greenhill beach

1 May to 30 September

Inside the summer ban. The order names Greenhill beaches specifically. North of Greenhill Groyne is the year round stretch, and the exact point is signed on the ground.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Bowleaze Cove

All year

Open to dogs all year round.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Church Ope Cove, Portland

All year

Open to dogs all year round.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Ringstead Beach

All year

Open all year. The National Trust owns the bay and asks for a short lead near ground nesting birds and livestock.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Chesil Beach, Abbotsbury to the Tank Teeth

All year

Open to dogs all year round.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Chesil Beach, Tank Teeth to the Portland Boundary Stone

1 September to 30 April

On leads, on the seaward side only, and only between those dates. There is no public access the rest of the year. This is a nature reserve rule, not the dog order.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Where a lead is required

This is the one that catches people out. The beach ban is seasonal; these apply all year.

Weymouth promenade, Pleasure Pier to Bowleaze

On a lead

On a lead at all times, including the pedestrianised stretch. Off the lead is fine down on the beach where the beach allows dogs at all.

Weymouth Town Council, checked 6 September 2026

The Rodwell Trail

On a lead

On a lead at all times, the whole length of it.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Car parks, cemeteries, formal gardens and allotments

On a lead

On a lead at all times in council car parks, cemeteries and churchyards, allotments, formal gardens, and within five metres of a marked sports pitch. Anywhere in Dorset an officer can tell you to put a dog on a lead.

Dorset Council, checked 6 September 2026

Pubs, cafes and places to visit that welcome dogs

Their words, from their own website or their pub company's, never from a review. Where a place only says it is dog friendly without saying where, this says the same and no more.

The Red Lion

Outside

Welcomes well behaved dogs on the terrace, with water bowls and a jar of biscuits on the bar.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Ship Inn

Inside too

Calls itself a dog friendly pub and restaurant, for a coffee or a full dinner.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Old Rooms Inn

Inside too

Dogs welcome in the bar, on a lead and off the furniture, at the manager's say so.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Cove House Inn, Portland

Yes

Dogs allowed in the bar and one side of the restaurant, on leads and under the table.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Wellington Arms

Outside

Dogs welcome in the outdoor area.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Boot Inn

Yes

Lists itself as a dog friendly pub. No detail given on which areas.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Sailors Return

Yes

Lists itself as pet friendly. No detail given on which areas.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

Rendezvous

Yes

Lists itself as dog friendly. No detail given on which areas.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

Little Dishes

Inside too

Their own site: they welcome well behaved dogs.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The White Hart

Inside too

A Greene King dog friendly pub: dogs in the bar on a lead, off the furniture, water bowls out.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Wyke Smugglers

Inside too

The publican's own words: family and dog friendly, all are always very welcome.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Bridge Inn, Preston

Yes

Punch Pubs describes it as pet friendly, alongside the beer garden. No detail on which areas.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

Wafflicious

Inside too

Their own site: animal friendly, and they do a doggy ice cream.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

The Swan Inn, Abbotsbury

Inside too

Their own words: well behaved dogs welcome in the bar and the garden, water bowls always out and treats often too.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

Nothe Fort

Inside too

Their own words: dogs are part of the family and they love seeing them round the fort, on a short lead and supervised. Water bowls by the cafe.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

Inside too

Dogs welcome on short, non extendable leads, across the whole thirty acres.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

Portland Castle

Inside too

English Heritage: dogs welcome in the grounds, the castle, the beach, the shop and the lower tea room, on a short lead.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

And one that does not

Worth knowing before you walk down there.

The William Henry

No dogs

Wetherspoon does not allow dogs in any of its pubs, gardens or car parks. Guide dogs and accredited assistance dogs only.

Their own page, checked 6 September 2026

And these, on CAMRA's word rather than their own

CAMRA's volunteers survey pubs and write down what they find, which is a good deal better than a review. It is still a survey taken at some point in the past, so it sits in its own list and it is worth a ring first.

The Black Dog

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

The Duke of Cornwall

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

The Globe Inn

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

The King's Arms

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

Tin Cat (formerly the Golden Lion)

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

Doghouse Micro Pub

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

Dolphin Hotel

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

Duke of Albany

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

Hardys Hop House

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

Market House

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

Cutter Hotel

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

Tides Inn

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

The Pulpit Inn

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

The Royal Portland Arms

CAMRA says yes

Recorded as dog friendly by CAMRA's pub survey. The pub itself does not say either way, so worth a ring first.

CAMRA's entry

This list is short on purpose. About ten more pubs in town have a Facebook page and no website, and a page nobody can read is not proof either way. They are missing rather than listed as no. If you run one of them, claim your listing and tick the box, and you will be up here the same day. Claim your page

Parks and green space

What the landowner says, not what people do.

Nothe Gardens

Dogs are welcome but must stay on a lead throughout the whole gardens.

Lodmoor Country Park

On the RSPB Lodmoor reserve dogs are welcome on the designated dog friendly trails only, on leads. The council page for the country park does not state a dog policy.

Radipole Park and Gardens

Off the lead on the play park field only. On a lead everywhere else, including the sensory garden. The cafe is dog friendly.

Bowleaze Cove (Bowleaze Park)

Listed by the council as a dog walking spot, and dogs are allowed on Bowleaze Cove beach all year round.

Overcombe Corner

Dogs allowed all year on the beach from Greenhill Groyne to Overcombe.

RSPB Radipole Lake

On short leads on the designated dog friendly trails, and welcome in the Discovery Centre on a short lead.

Lorton Meadows

On a lead. Respect the No Dogs signs and avoid fields with grazing cattle.

All the parks and gardens →

Walks

All of these take a dog. The Rodwell Trail wants a lead the whole way.

Where all this comes from. The beach and lead rules are The Dorset Council Dog Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2024. It runs to the end of December 2026 and the council has not yet published what replaces it, so the dates above are right for now and this page will say so plainly rather than roll them forward into next year on a guess.