A PUB which provides an extra special welcome for canine visitors was the setting for the launch the annual Be Dog Friendly Awards.

The Pendle Inn, Barley, provides free dog biscuits and water bowls for pets at the pub-restaurant close to Pendle Hill.

The pub was used to launch the search is on to find the UK’s most dog-friendly places, as part of the Kennel Club Be Dog Friendly Awards 2015.

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The competition, now in its ninth year, aims to breakdown barriers for man’s best friend by encouraging more businesses and public spaces to welcome dogs through their doors.

Front of house manager at the Pendle Inn, Stuart Nicholls, said: “The design of the pub lends itself to welcoming dogs and also walkers who may have a little mud on their boots. The bar area at the front of the premises is stone flagged, dogs are welcome there. However, they are not allowed in the restaurant and conservatory area where most of our diners go.

The Be Dog Friendly Awards 2015 are held in association with Dog Friendly, the directory with more than 32,000 entries including dog-friendly hotels, cottages, pubs, beaches, camping and caravan sites.

The winners in all categories will be determined by public recommendation and vote. In addition to the category awards, a Special Recognition prize will be awarded to a place or business that the Kennel Club identifies as pulling out all the stops for its canine customers.

The awards will be presented at the Eukanuba Discover Dogs Show, to be held at ExCeL, London on October 17-18.

The competition runs until September 15.

To recommend and vote for your favourite dog friendly places or businesses, please go to bedogfriendlyawards.co.uk.

Everyone who makes a nomination or votes will be entered into a free prize draw to win a Samsung camera and Amazon vouchers, with runner up prizes of 10 pairs of tickets to Crufts and Eukanuba Discover Dogs.

See dogfriendly.co.uk for places to go with your dog.