Recently opened Bath Country Pets is already creating national interest – including coverage on the Daily Mail website – in its boutique dog hotel, which offers five-star accommodation. Owner Emma Edwards, who runs the business with husband Neil, takes Pet Trade Xtra on a tour of this unique pet store and hotel.
“Our life is very much about our kids and our animals and creating a positive and healthy environment for them to flourish in,” says Emma. “We have always included dogs as part of our family and they have been the inspiration for us to launch our new business.
“We felt there was a clear gap in the market for families like us, who have canine pets, but who would not feel comfortable leaving them in a traditional kennel environment.
“And finally, Autumn 2018 saw the official launch of Bath Country Pets’ luxury and very cool boutique dog hotel.”
Emma has a background in brand management, design and marketing while Neil has vast experience in the leisure industry, so the pair were well placed to create the perfect place for dogs to stay.
“We think our hotel for dogs is unique,” adds Emma. “We’ve taken the time to make sure that it oozes rural chic, from the American barn-style exterior with its clock tower and Labrador weather vane, around which swallows swoop, to the cosy interior.”
There are four acres of gardens and meadows for visiting dogs to enjoy outside, with fun and games and lots of attention on offer from the Bath Country Pets team.
Individual bedrooms, each named after a famous Bath landmark, are airy, spacious and clean with soft, naturally hypoallergenic and anti-microbial sheep’s wool-stuffed beds and a selection of well-designed and stimulating toys. Wood fuelled under-floor heating ensures that dogs will be warm and comfortable in winter, and natural sheep’s wool insulation keeps the building cool in warmer weather.
The cosy guest lounge features a wood burning stove/cooker, kitchen area, seating and tables for pet owners to enjoy a hot drink and socialise with other customers. Eventually this room will be used to host talks, seminars and other dog-related events.
“We believe in making each day for our guests different, rewarding and fun,” says Emma. “We go on ‘excursion walks’ in the lovely surrounding Cotswold countryside, where we encounter new smells, rivers, streams, woodlands and hills. We offer a well-balanced and nutritious diet, featuring natural organic foods and carbon filtered water, and time for rest and peaceful sleep in our quiet rural location.
“Our attention to detail and comprehensive service is already becoming renowned. Owners can leave their dogs in our care with confidence – we’ll sort out all their requirements and keep them regularly posted on their stay.”
Overnight stays are priced from £46 per dog – the price dependent on seasonal demand – and the response from the pet owning public has been overwhelming so far,” adds Emma.
“We are attracting dog owners who have gone years without holidays, owners who are very anxious about their pets. Our customers regard their dogs as part of the family and are looking for that nurturing environment for their pets.”
One customer said this about Bath Country Pets: “We can’t thank you enough for the wonderful care you’ve taken of Florence and Wilf. They’ve obviously had a fantastic time, and what you’ve created is utterly fabulous. Leaving them always tainted our holidays, not any more. I now don’t worry about leaving them, just that they won’t want to come home!”
For more information visit www.bathcountrypets.co.uk
