-  SMUDGE  -

Most of our regular customers have come to know Smudge the pub cat over the last 6 years. He is a great character and has made many friends during his reign over the public bar. Unfortunately one Saturday night recently a customer’s dog in the bar attacked Smudge and as a result he has had to undergo surgery to a very badly injured front leg. The good news is that he has survived the surgery but we won't know for a few weeks yet if his leg is going to be usable or if it will require amputation. 

As our regular customers know, we have always made dogs welcome in the hotel and Smudge would often sit on his favourite bar stool and watch them closely. Now with the prospect of a possible three-legged Smudge, we have reluctantly come to the decision to ban dogs from the bar to protect him from any further attacks.

If you have a hotel room already booked with your pet we will honour the booking but, unfortunately, we will not be accepting any new bookings with dogs.

Dogs are still welcome outside on the patio areas but we would ask all customers to keep them under control at all times.

Update - 29/03/10

Smudge had to undergo a further operation today following a bad weekend. He has come through the operation well and is feasting on his favourite tinned tuna. We are still unsure as to when he will be returning to his stool at the bar but he is certainly making progress this week.

Update - 03/05/10

Smudge continues to make slow progress. His leg is still in a splint but the vet says that there are signs that at long last the bones are starting to mend. The infection in his foot is also improving. With luck he may make it back into the bar in the next few weeks.

Many thanks to all who have contacted us and sent messages, we always thought he was a "character " we just never realised how popular and how many fans he had until now!!

Update - 28/05/10