What’s Bike & Boot like?
The Bike & Boot group is aimed at “21st Century travellers” and its quirky Scarborough hotel is a big hit with walkers, cyclists and dog owners. It is located in an iconic old building which boasts amazing sea views, cool tech, fantastic facilities and a dog-friendly bar and restaurant. The hotel, which opened in 2020, overlooks the stunning South Bay and is ideally located for exploring the very best of “Scarbados”.
How dog-friendly is Bike & Boot?
Really good. Dogs will have their own bed waiting for them in the room and there are plenty of treats dotted around the hotel. Pets are allowed throughout, including the lounges and main restaurant, and they’re guaranteed to get lots of fuss from the staff. As part of its Wadobi concept – facilities for walkers, dogs and bikes – the hotel even has a dog grooming area, complete with professional bath and grooming table. There’s an additional charge of £15 per night per dog.
Tell me more about Bike & Boot
There are 60 rooms at the hotel, ranging from Small Doubles to Suites. We stayed in Room 104 – a Medium Double with Sea View on the first floor – and it was surprisingly spacious. A king-size bed with wooden headboard dominated the room but there were lots of stylish touches, from Steampunk-style light fittings to retro travel posters acting as the blinds. The room came complete with a fridge, safe and minibar, as well as a coffee machine and Smart TV. And I loved the zig-zag carpet and orange radiator and floor lamp, which provided little pops of colour.
Bike & Boot also has some fantastic, yet quirky facilities for travellers. Free cake, hot drinks and board games are available 24 hours a day in The Retreat and The Film Club – which has proper cinema seats – shows three movies a day, at 3pm, 6pm and 9pm. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to enjoy the show as well.
The hotel has lots of cool mod-cons, like self check-in machines, and guests are given free parking permits, too. The hotel also has great facilities for active types. These include secure bike storage, a cycle service station and electric bike hire. You can even store your surfboard at the hotel, if you’re that way inclined! We loved watching the surfers on South Bay from our bedroom window.
What’s the food like at Bike & Boot?
Excellent. Dogs are welcome in the main Bareca restaurant, where the name is a blend of the words Bar, Restaurant and Cafe. Bareca is open all day long and serves a range of well-priced dishes from pizza and pasta to steak. There is also a great choice of cocktails and locally-produced beers. I loved the quirky decor, which plays on the Bike & Boot brand. Think bikes on the wall, bar stools with pedals as footrests, artfully-arranged displays of cycle helmets and boots used as light fittings.
Pets are also allowed in the cool lounge areas, where you can enjoy the aforementioned free hot drinks and slices of cake. But if you don’t fancy eating in-house, the hotel gives guests a free “Quick & Dirty Guide” to Scarborough. This lists some of the best bars, cafes and attractions in town – many of which are dog-friendly. These include The Belly Rub, The Copper Horse and the Firk Inn.
Are there resident dogs at Bike & Boot?
No, but you’ll probably meet at least a couple of others who are staying over. We bumped into six on our visit, of all different shapes and sizes!
Where are the best walks near Bike & Boot?
Scarborough’s Valley Gardens are right next to the hotel and make for a great early morning stroll. The town’s beaches are also amazing, and we could see sandy South Bay from our bedroom window, pictured above. Restrictions apply on both South and North Bay during the summer months, but a section of the former is dog-friendly all year round. This is clearly signposted but if in doubt, just look for all the other dogs!
Historic Peasholm Park, to the north of Scarborough, is an excellent place to visit, too. It has previously been voted one of the best in the UK, and has lots of walkways to explore as well as a tranquil lake. The 14-hectare park has an oriental theme and you can walk out to the island in the middle of the lake, as well as walk around it. Boats and pedalos can also be hired and dogs are welcome to jump onboard.
The steep climb up to Scarborough Castle is well worth doing, too. Dogs are very welcome to explore this English Heritage attraction, which has more than 3,000 years of history to explore. The 16-acre castle site has panoramic views of the Yorkshire coastline and dogs will love running around on the grassy headland. The castle is approximately a 25-minute walk from Bike & Boot. Adult tickets cost £8.70.
What Ernie and Stan loved about Bike & Boot
Looking out for local dogs from the window, meeting other four-legged guests, being so close to the beach
What I loved about Bike & Boot
The stylish decor, the great freebies, the food and drink on offer at Bareca
How to book Bike & Boot
Rooms start from £72 per night. Breakfast costs extra. For more information or to book, call 01723 655555 or visit the official Bike & Boot website.
