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An image of a guide dog owner, with her yellow labrador guide dog, enjoying a meal out at a restaurant.

Access for all - restaurants and pubs

Imagine arriving at your local pub or restaurant, looking forward to an evening out, only to be turned away at the door. The reason? You’re a guide dog owner and your guide dog is not welcome.

This is the humiliating experience that many guide dog owners face all too often. We have tackled this issue as part of our Access for All campaign, and are continuing to urge all licensees and restaurateurs to open their doors to guide dog owners and their dogs.

In order to support our campaign and encourage all pubs and restaurants to open their doors to guide dog owners we have developed:

Although the majority of restaurants of all types, offer excellent service to guide dog owners and other disabled people, Guide Dogs wants to help ensure that this is the case for everyone, everywhere.

The law supports this approach, as do other initiatives such as that of the Institute of Environmental Health Officers. So it is not a change in the law that’s needed, but in people’s attitudes. We completed a nationwide survey (of 500 establishments in nine cities) showing that some restaurants and pubs are breaking the law by refusing to accept guide dog owners with their dogs.

A freephone hotline number

Kevin Whately, renowned for his role as Sergeant Lewis in the popular TV series "Inspector Morse" has recorded a message, on 08000 131717, explaining to landlords and restaurateurs their legal obligations to welcome guide dogs. He also explains the special training guide dogs receive.

Listen to Kevin Whately's message:

Quicktime/Mac users (AIFF file; 275K)

Windows users (AVI file; 1.3M) download Quicktime player


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Guide dog owner access card

All guide dog owners have been provided with a card which gives the freephone hotline number. If they encounter refusals, they can show the car and ask the pub or restaurant to ring the number.


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Guide dog stickers

The stickers have a guide dog welcome message and are available free of charge; just call 0118 983 8228 or email guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk.


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Information and practical advice

For more detailed information on this issue use the links to access our

"Eating out is one of life's pleasures which nobody should be denied. I am disappointed that any pub or restaurant would turn away a guide dog owner and would appeal to everyone in the profession to throw their support behind Guide Dogs' Access for All campaign."
Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson showing his support for the campaign.

For further on any of these issues please email guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk.


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