New ‘five star’ luxury hotel now accepting bookings – for dogs

Jasmine tries out a bed at the Paw Seasons, with owners Stephen de la Haye and Penny Dawkins, in one of the dog hotel’s larger rooms, each of which includes a TV and feeding station Picture: JON GUEGAN (35900855)

HOUSING may be in short supply, property and rental prices are through the roof and young Islanders are finding it increasingly difficult to secure their first home…

But Jersey’s canine residents are well catered for, it seems.

The Island’s first luxury dog hotel – fitted with artificial grass used at Crufts, underfloor heating, TVs and triple glazing – is due to open this week.

Penny Dawkins, who has a background in breeding champion pointers and managing kennels, has always dreamed of establishing a luxury dog hotel – and now she has.

Paw Seasons, nestled among the leafy lanes of St Martin, offers state-of-the-art facilities which have been purpose built to serve as a ‘home from home’ for furry friends.

The outdoor play area

Mrs Dawkins said the new business was needed following the recent closure of several kennels.

‘I’ve been wanting to do this for years,’ she said. ‘It was always my little dream, but I wasn’t in a position previously to do it.’

With her partner, Stephen de la Haye, she secured planning permission, and broke ground. The building project took 12 months.

Now, bookings are being taken for the ‘five-star’ hotel. When it opens next month, it will be licensed to house 20 dogs, with ten ‘beach huts’, two of which are larger ‘suites’.

Each kennel has its own television, bed, window, underfloor heating, and ‘back garden’. There is also a full grooming room, with the option of a brush, wash and blow-dry for a bit extra.

The indoor play area is lined with special artificial grass which came from the centre arena at Crufts.

‘They use it once and then sell it on,’ Mrs Dawkins said.

Mr de la Haye added: ‘It’s all about the experience for the dog. In this environment, they are going to have a positive experience.

‘It’s really light and airy, with bright colours.

A row of the beach hut kennels

‘The dogs almost feel like they’re outside, because sometimes kennels can feel quite dark.’

He added: ‘We’re in a quiet, country location, so when they’re going out for their walks, it’s all green lanes and fields.’

And neighbours – not that there are any – need not worry about the noise.

‘It’s all acoustically lined,’ Mrs Dawkins said. ‘We worked with Fay de Gruchy from Aura, and put in triple-glazed windows and sound absorbers for the noise.’

She added: ‘A lot of people love their dogs like their children, and I would want my dog to have luxury. It’s a home from home, and so chilled with only ten dogs, so they don’t get anxious. If you need to kennel your dog, you want to give them the best facilities.

‘It’s about time for Jersey to have something like this, with several recent kennel closures, and more dogs than ever in the Island.’

Mrs Dawkins said she was already fully booked for the first few weeks of June.

‘We have made it affordable for everybody,’ she added, with a daily tariff of £45 for one dog and £65 for two dogs (sharing).

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