A NEW café that will give people the opportunity to dine with their dogs in the stunning surrounds of Ardgillan Castle and Demesne has opened.
Paws at Ardgillan is one of the first in Ireland and is certainly the first feature of its kind in a municipal park in the country.
The dog walking fraternity is a huge demographic that has traditionally been badly catered for when it comes to eating out in Ireland. The first ever dog-friendly café opened its doors recently in Dublin, ‘Pupp’ on Clanbrassil Street.
Dog owners are universally frustrated by the fact that they cannot bring their dogs into a food premises. Often they have to either leave them at home or tie them up outside, neither of which are acceptable solutions.
This refreshing new initiative means that after a walk in Ardgillan, dog walkers can sit with their dogs at a café table and partake in either hot or cold light food and refreshments.
There are just three conditions attached to the new initiative: the dog owners must clean up any accidents, all dogs are kept on a leash and owners with persistently noisy dogs will be politely asked to leave.
Property Manager at Ardgillan Castle, Tom Reilly, said: “Since I took up the position of manager, I have always been conscious of the fact that dog walkers are prevented from having their dogs alongside them when they visit our Tea Rooms, or indeed any café I know of.
“We have innumerable local people walking dogs from morning to night in the park.
“We often get asked if we are going to do anything about dogs and as a dog owner myself, I fully appreciate the dilemma.
“So we identified the former gardener’s cottage on the demesne, overlooking the Rose Garden, as the perfect location for a dog friendly café.”
Mr Reilly added: “Obviously two-legged customers without dogs are also welcome to Paws at Ardgillan.”