It was one of the first businesses in Northern Ireland to capture a new audience by honing in on a 'dogs welcome inside' approach.
But today the new owners of the Salty Dog in Bangor, Co Down, have announced a new name and a major change that will affect their customers with dogs.
In January the Fusco family had announced they had bought over the business and as dog lovers and owners, had planned to keep it dog friendly.
However next month the 120-year-old sea front hotel is to drop the Salty Dog name to be known as The Nines, and dog owners who once enjoyed a warm welcome inside a small downstairs lounge, will be invited instead to sit outside with their food, drinks and pets from March 20 - and pets will no longer be permitted during overnight stays.
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The move has attracted complaints across social media from dog lovers and a spokesperson for DogLoversNI, who list venues which welcomes dogs inside, said: "The Salty Dog, Bangor is no longer dog friendly as we expect an establishment to be. We won’t be back and they have been removed from our dogs welcome list."
In an announcement on social media, the hotel business stated: "Dogs are still massively welcome into our business, however from the 20th March 2023 we will be asking all dogs and owners to use the garden area and no longer the front bar & restaurant."
In a move they say will benefit the town, they said the change of pet friendly policy is "definitely not bad news".
They added: "As part of our first phase of development we will be making the garden a more comfortable area where customers can order from both our food and drinks menus and table service will be available.
"We are also working towards making this area of the venue sheltered in the near future so it is weather proof."
The Fusco family who took over the business in January from Ken Sharp who had run it for 12 years, believe their refurbishment of the lobby, bar restaurant means "it will be no longer be a suitable environment for pups".
They said: "We are all dog owners and lovers ourselves and this has been a big decision for us but one we feel is necessary and appropriate for our vision.
"We trust all of our loyal customers will understand & support this change as we are investing massively in our community over the next three years providing additional jobs for local people & attempting to bring business to the local area that will benefit our town."
Reaction to the announcement amongst dog lovers and regular customers has been critical.
Nicole Lynch said: "When I read their post I really wanted to comment saying 'I don't think you can really call your establishment dog friendly'. To me dog friendly is when you can have your dog inside with you and enjoy the inside atmosphere, not sitting outside when its baltic, especially down in Bangor, even a good day down there can be cold.
"Dogs are allowed outside everywhere so that isn't dog friendly in my opinion. What a shame. More and more households now have dogs and whilst we love going out without our baby we also love to take her with us too. Dogs are sometimes better behaved than some children in my personal experience."
Helen Kelly said: "The outside area is in full blast of the wind off the sea with no shelter from rain either. A hot meal won’t be long going cold. Besides there’s only room for about eight people, less if they all have a dog. This is a very disappointing decision. I’d rather get a carry out from the lovely Guillemot cafe next door and sit down by the harbour out of the wind."
Lynn Stanfield said: "We’re still dog friendly - please sit outside in the cold’ - that’s not dog friendly in my opinion. I love dining outside when the weather is nice. Even for coffee or lunch when it’s cooler. But I’m not going to go ‘out for dinner’ and expect to sit in a yard. Even in the pictures they have, there are people in coats at picnic tables. You can get a takeaway and sit at a nice bench with a view somewhere if you want dinner outside."
Maureen Gillespie said: "If they want the business from dog owners while keeping them outside it would be better to state it as it is; dogs and owners welcome but just outside."
Catherine Hardy said: "It kind of just puts the dogs and owners out in the cold - literally."
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