Dogs rule at Newcastle pub

It’s a dog’s life at The Family Hotel in Newcastle West.

The Family Hotel, which opened in July 2016 with a view to becoming a community hub, is serious about dogs.

This year’s Dog Day Afternoon for example, which is on again this Sunday, April 29, is about finding dogs good homes and raising money for Dog Rescue Newcastle.

So dog owners are asked to bring the pups in between 12.30pm and 2pm for a cuddle.

People can then have a beer and learn about the adoption process.

And from 2pm the pub welcomes every man, woman and, of course, their dogs.

Staff at the pub love dogs. So people are invited to bring their dogs in. Dogs are more than welcome at this pub, if they are socialised and on a lead. No-one cares what kind of breed it is.

“If the doors are open, your pups are welcome. Canines are welcome at all our events within reason. We actually find dogs are better behaved than most humans,” hotel marketing manager Zack Hearn told the Newcastle Herald.

Hearn says it reflects the pub’s core customer base which includes people who have moved to Newcastle for university study or employment, are renting and have been forced to leave their beloved pets behind.

It’s also reflected in the pub’s menu.

James Cook, who has been head chef for the past year, understood that a lot of the people coming in to the pub are vegans and are sick of chips and salad as their only pub-grub options. So the pub hosted two vegan “long lunches” recently and both sold out. 

“We’re not trying to be your stereotypical Insta-inspo vegan cafe. Our vegan food is done pub-style,” Hearn told the Newcastle Herald.

“As a business, we’ve never been stronger. We’re starting to see a huge group of regulars who frequent us and bring more and more friends in each visit. Subo, Antojitos, Bao Brothers, The Happy Wombat, The Koutetsu – we’re all working together to build something really special in Newcastle West.” 

Leon Getter - 25th April 2018