JD Wetherspoon to enforce dogs ban next month

Dogs will not be allowed inside the operator’s pubs or in its beer gardens from 10 September, with the company citing children's fears and hygiene factors as the reasons why.

Notes about the soon-to-be implemented ban have been put up in a few branches, informing customers there will no longer be exceptions to an historic policy.

The company’s policy on dogs​ reads: "Please note that Wetherspoon has a policy of not allowing dogs in its pubs, including all outside areas (assistance Dogs excepted).

"This policy was introduced shortly after the company was founded in 1979, although, in recent years, we have allowed a few exceptions.

"After much consultation, we will now be strictly enforcing this policy everywhere.

"In order to give those affected time to adjust, we have set a deadline of Monday, 10 September."

Only assistance dogs

Punters spotted a notice in the Admiral Collingwood pub in Ilfracombe on the ban, according to Devon Live​.

Until the enforcement of the ban, dogs at the north Devon pub are “only allowed at the picnic benches at the front of the pub and must be supervised at all time”.

It said: “This is a company decision and has been made in the interest of consistency across all JD Wetherspoon pubs.”

Assistance dogs, which support adults and children with a range of disabilities, will still be permitted on the premises of all the pubco's sites.

Spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "Even well-behaved dogs can be unpredictable and every dog owner thinks their dog is perfect.

"We welcome a lot of children and families at our restaurants. Younger children in particular can be unpredictable around dogs and many are scared of dogs.

"We serve a lot of food. Unfortunately, not all owners are diligent over cleaning up dog mess."