Dogs can no longer go in the dining room 

ONE of the country’s top reviewers has sparked a debate on whether dogs should be allowed in dining areas after a visit to a Kentish Town pub.

But as Observer critic Jay Rayner’s assessment was published, the owner of The Parakeet said it has already stopped customers’ canine friends from joining them at the table.

Mr Rayner produced a simultaneously laudatory and searing piece, with the majority of the review given over to the praise of the “terrific” food. But his unimpressed view of the restaurant’s “pro-dog policy” – in operation at the time of his visit – had readers discussing whether dogs should be welcome dinner companions.

“I’m genuinely glad your dogs bring you so much love and comfort and companionship,” Mr Rayner wrote. “I just don’t want one indulging in rigorous arse-end frottage against me while I’m trying to get into the asparagus. Is that so weird?”

SEE ALSO THE CNJ’S REVIEW OF THE PARAKEET”S FOOD

Speaking to the New Journal this week, pub owner Steve Ball said Mr Rayner chose an “unfortunate” time to visit the pub.

“We had a bit of a debate about whether we should allow dogs [in the restaurant],” he said. “And then we thought, ‘you know what, we’ll trial it for a week.’ Then Jay came down: it just so happens in the week you’re trialing it.

“So we had arguably one of the most important national restaurant critics come down, sat down next to where there was a dog, and the dog licked the hand of his guest.”

Mr Ball added: “We only trialed it for a week, and that was six weeks ago. It just so happened that it’s taken a while for the review to be published.”

The pub in Kentish Town Road– formerly The Oxford – opened in March.

The Parakeet

Mr Ball said: “We obviously love dogs, but part of the problem is we said: small, well-behaved dogs are allowed. I think people who have Rhodesian Ridgebacks think their dog is small and well-behaved. The issue was more they were getting in the way of the waiters moving around the table.”

Any dogs hoping for a fallen chunk of speciality mutton sausage can forget about it, as Mr Ball said the pub has now found a “middle-ground,” with dogs allowed in the pub’s bar but not in the restaurant.

“Now this article’s been published, I imagine we’re going to have loads of people turning up with their dogs, even though now we’re not having dogs in the dining room,” he said.

“We’re not upset by the review or anything like that: it just is what it is. In some sense it’s quite funny that it ends up being the most-read article on the Guardian website on Sunday.

“A lot of people have an opinion on dogs one way or the other, so I think it possibly is a divisive issue. But hopefully the Parakeet’s found some sort of middle-ground for everyone”