Britain is a nation of dog lovers – there are estimated to be 8.5 million of them sharing our homes.
Sadly, the majority of retailers in the UK fail to recognise how much we love our pets and that, for many of us, they are our companions. Therefore it’s natural that we want to take them shopping with us. But many retailers simply ban all dogs – regardless of size – unless, of course, they are service dogs in which case they have a legal obligation to allow them access.
Liberty is one of my favourite shops in London. That striking and imposing façade. The wooden interior that harks back to bygone elegant times. It’s quintessentially British. It’s stylish. It champions British brands. And it’s quirky. You can be sure you will find unique and interesting items there - always a refreshing change from the sea of sameness at the chain stores.
The Christmas shop there is an annual fixture for me. And when I have a few moments between meetings in the West End I will pop in to browse the stunning scarf section or ponder the delightful designs in the stationery department.
So whilst watching some of the recent TV programmes about the store, I was struck by the fact that although the store doesn’t stock pet products (there are a few dog shampoos in the beauty section) it is dog-friendly. They welcome shoppers – whether VIPs or not – with dogs.
So I phoned to check the dog policy. And, it’s true – they are happy to welcome well-behaved dogs up to a medium height. I’m delighted as Alfie my Chihuahua can now come with me when I shop there.
So let’s show our support for British retailers that welcome dogs and get down to Regent Street.
