Welcoming your four-legged friends to West Sussex

Here at White & Brooks, we know that dogs are more than just pets; they’re members of the family and can often influence where we choose to live. We’re incredibly lucky that West Sussex is teeming with a huge variety of dog-friendly venues, both indoors and outside.

Beaches and parks

With miles of glorious coastline, stunning countryside and nature reserves, West Sussex is perfect for dog walks at any time of the year. Although it’s common to have seasonal restrictions in place on most beaches across the UK, there are still plenty of places that you and your dogs can visit to breathe in the salty sea air.

Dogs are allowed on the majority of beaches in Bognor Regis throughout the year but this map shows exactly where you can walk your pups during the restricted period of 1^st May to 30^th September.

Dogs are welcome on all parts of West Wittering Beach from October to April and if you’re partial to a pebbled beach, you can head just two miles along the coast to East Wittering Beach.

Pagham Beach is open to dogs all year-round and you could also venture to Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve, as dogs are welcome on all the footpaths, as long as they’re kept on leads.

Close to Bognor Regis town centre is Hotham Park, where dogs can run around the vast 22 acres of land. Just on the outskirts of town is Bersted Brooks, which is made up of three huge fields and has a stream for those who enjoy a doggy paddle!

The Chichester Secure Dog Activity Park and Training Centre, just 10 minutes from the centre of town, could be considered doggy heaven. Next to a nature reserve, there’s five acres of land plus a natural freshwater pool for the dogs to splash about in. Paw Paddock is another enclosed, secure environment for dogs to run around freely. Just be sure to book ahead for each of these brilliant facilities.

Food and drink

If you’re on the lookout for food and drink, there’s a huge variety of places where your pooch will be as welcome as you are.  For somewhere with a view, look no further than The Beach Hut in Bognor Regis – they even sell doggy ice-cream, so you can treat your furry friend after a long beach walk. The Coastal Coffee Company and The Waverley, both in Bognor, offer a relaxed atmosphere and are dog friendly.

If you’re after a traditional pub lunch with your pooch in tow, you could head to the Crown & Anchor or The Park Tavern in Chichester. Just outside Chichester in the pretty village of Lavant is the Earl of March – a pub that dates back to the 18^th century.  

Paws with Friends in Selsey is a coffee shop that very much caters to both humans and their dogs. Good alternatives are the Drift-In Surf Café and Drifters, both in East Wittering.

Accommodation

As dog owners, we love to involve our pets in most aspects of our lives and that includes travelling away from home. If you’re considering a trip to the area, there are some fantastic places for both you and your dogs to stay.

A ten-minute drive from Bognor Regis is Bailiffscourt Hotel and Spa, where dogs can roam the 30 acres of land and take a swim in the sea. They even have a special ‘Sandy Paws’ package that includes a huge variety of canine treats.

The Beachcroft Hotel is right on the seafront, so perfect for walks. The venue is completely geared up to welcome dogs, with treats on hand, a Doggy Station to help keep them clean after a sandy stroll and they’ll have their own doggy menu (you could even ask for a doggy bag)!

The Goodwood Hotel near Chichester is set in the heart of 12,000 acres of nature – perfect for your four-legged friends. It not only treats your dog like a member of the family, it also hosts an annual event called Goodwoof; a dog event like no other, which we sponsored in 2022.

Crouchers Hotel near West Wittering is a stylish and contemporary boutique hotel that offers two beautiful garden rooms that, despite their plushness, are also dog friendly.

This list is by no means extensive, so why not take a trip to West Sussex to see just how much this area offers all members of the family? And if you decide to extend your visit to a more permanent one, we’d be more than happy to help you find your dream home.