Dog hotel opens in Birtley

A new 10-room dog hotel has opened on 250 acres of farmland north of Hexham, Northumberland.

The Northumberland Dog Hotel, located at Cowden Burn Farm, near Birtley, also features a grooming salon and five acres of secure land for the dogs to exercise on.

Owner Rachel Walton told The Northern Farmer: “They’re not like traditional kennels. All rooms have underfloor heating, televisions and security cameras. It helps dogs to settle better because it’s more of a home-from-home environment.”

Walton previously owned What a Clip Dog Grooming in Prudhoe and Prudhoe Pet Centre, but sold them in 2015 when she had children.

She told the newspaper that the facility is already “very busy”, it has had 270 bookings, and this summer season is already 75% booked.