A new poll has revealed a mixed (doggy) bag when it comes to the issue, with almost four in 10 (39%) believing dogs should be banned entirely from restaurants, but 61% being a lot more flexible.

The research by The Restaurant Club, a scheme supporting local restaurateurs, also found that one in 10 (11%) said they’d only be happy for our four-legged friends to enter cafés, not restaurants.

One in 20 (5%) called for a dog only area to be introduced in restaurants, while 8% said only guide dogs should be permitted.

Louisa Walters, founder of The Restaurant Club, said: “I love the fact that I can take my shih tzu into my local newsagent, post office, chemist and hairdresser, so it follows that I would want to take her with me into local restaurants too. Every high street needs at least one dog friendly eatery and we’ve scoped out the best ones for our members.

“However, the Club is calling for a dog-friendly code of conduct, not just for restauranteurs in terms of hygiene when feeding dogs, but for pet owners too.”

In response to the research, The Restaurant Club has now added a dog-friendly section to its website offering pro-canine diners discounts and advice on where to eat in the capital.

Do you think dogs should be allowed into cafés and restaurants?