A Warrington pub has been crowned the best place in Britain for dogs – and the latest national accolade adds to an impressive record of success for The Maltings.
The Maltings in Old Hall has been named Best Pub for Dogs at the 2026 Great British Pub Awards, beating competition from across the country.
The prestigious award was presented at the Great British Pub Awards ceremony on Wednesday evening, with the judges praising the Warrington pub for putting dogs at the heart of its operation rather than simply allowing them through the door.
The latest success is particularly significant because it follows years of recognition for The Maltings’ dog-friendly credentials.
Back in 2018, the pub was voted the most dog-friendly pub in the North West in the DogBuddy awards, beating the previous year’s regional winner, the Caledonia in Liverpool.
It was also named North West winner in the 2019 DogFriendly Awards, finishing sixth nationally after more than 2,500 pubs entered the competition.
And the awards success has continued in recent years.
The Maltings was a finalist for Best Pub for Dogs at the Great British Pub Awards in 2024 and 2025, before finally taking the national title in 2026.
In 2024 it was also named the best dog-friendly pub in the North West by Rover, following inspections by the organisation’s Tavern Testers.
The Maltings has built an extensive offering around its four-legged customers, including its A La Bark menu, doggy afternoon teas, £1 Monday dog dinners and dog birthday parties.
There are also free treats, water stations, beds, toys, blankets and even a stick library.
Regular features, including Dog of the Week, seasonal events and organised dog walks have helped turn the pub into a destination for dog owners from across the area.
The organised walks have proved particularly successful, attracting hundreds of people and their dogs and becoming an important part of the pub’s community activity.
The pub also supports charity initiatives and runs twice-monthly women’s welfare walks.
The Great British Pub Awards judges visited the shortlisted pubs as part of the judging process before the finalists faced a final panel interview.
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser and head judge and a former member of the Orbit News team who produce Warrington-Worldwide, said The Maltings stood out because its commitment to dogs went much further than simply allowing them into the pub.
“Dogs are genuinely at the heart of what this business does,” he said.
A Warrington success story
The latest award comes in the 27th year of the Great British Pub Awards, which attracts more than 1,000 entries from pubs across Great Britain.
The Maltings was the only winner in the Best Pub for Dogs category, while other winners included The Swan in Clewer for Best Community Pub, The Red Lion in Cranford for Best Country Pub and The Tamworth Tap, which took both Best Beer Pub and the overall Great British Beer Pub of the Year title.
For The Maltings, however, the latest trophy represents something more than a single successful awards night.
From its 2018 North West victory to its 2019 regional success, 2024 Rover title, repeated Great British Pub Awards finalist appearances and now a national Great British Pub Award, the Old Hall pub has established a remarkable track record when it comes to catering for dogs.
And judging by the latest award, its reputation as a destination for four-legged customers shows no sign of going away.
A Maltings regular!
