With it’s thriving High Street and exciting range of independent stores – Stamford is the perfect place to enjoy some retail therapy. Whether you’re after designer brands, beautiful homewares or gorgeous gifts, you can shop til you drop in Stamford and best of all, you can bring your dog because many of the shops here don’t just allow dogs, they welcome them!
Bear in mind though that Dog Friendly does shopping come with it’s own etiquette rules.
- Do make sure your dog is on a lead and under your control at all times.
- Do take your dog outside if they are anxious or over excited.
- Do consider other customers who are shopping with/out their dogs.
- Do exercise common sense – some of these shops are very small with fragile items. Do think about the size and disposition of your dog before entering.
Teddy Roosevelt and I have taken one for the team and rounded up some of the the best dog friendly independent retail stores in town with the caveat that this list does not include all the dog friendly shops in town but it does include all our independent furvourites! Where possible, we’ve also added eating and/or drinking options because everyone knows shopping is hungry and thirsty work! Buckle up pups, we’re going shopping!
Stamford Botanics
7 St Paul’s Street
Nestled in Stamford’s Green Quarter on St Pauls Street, just off the High Street at the end of town, you’ll find Plant Heaven AKA Stamford Botanics. Come here for good energy, amazing plants and for the pups, delicious dog treats!
Established in 2021 just after lockdown, this shop is a town favourite and popular with humans and canines alike. Owner Leonie is as warm and friendly as she is knowledgeable and whether you’re after something big or small, hanging or tall, you’ll find your perfect plant here.
Leonie caters to her canine customers too – they all know where she keeps the treats! If you’re lucky you might see Leonie’s two fur-assistants, Babs and Dandy if they’re working – the cutest sales pups you ever did see!
If you’re in need of some refreshment, go from plant shopping to a plant based menu at The Blonde Beet next door. Stamford’s first plant based cafe and bistro has a 17th century interior, cosy courtyard and as well as great food and coffee, serves a range of local beers, gin, cider and organic wine. It’s also very dog friendly!
10 Maiden Lane
Tucked away down Maiden Lane – a street so pretty, it’s worth a visit in itself – you’ll find Country Traditionals selling the most swoonsome Polish pottery and kitchenware.
Your dog is most welcome to browse with you and browse you will because there is simply so much to choose from. The staff are absolutely delightful and always happy to help. As if all that’s not enough, the pottery is all oven, Aga, microwave and dishwasher safe and makes a great gift or souvenir.
If you need a sit down after all that shopping, head to The Kings Head pub across the road and check out their thirst quenching selection of craft beers and delicious and reasonably priced food menu. Dogs are welcome and if they’re lucky, might score a treat too!
Sophie Allport
26-27 High Street
Lincolnshire born and bred, Sophie Allport has been creating beautiful pieces for homes since 2007. Although the business has grown since then with stores here in Stamford as well as Harrogate and Bourne, the vision of the business is still to create ‘lovely things for a lovely home.’
All of the designs are lovingly created by Sophie at her countryside home in Lincolnshire. Her collections include everything for the home including kitchen and dining, bathroom, soft furnishings, lamps, mirrors and so much more. Her love of animals inspires her pet collection with a range of stylish, collars, leads and mattresses and lots of gifts for animal loving humans too! Dogs are most welcome and if they’re lucky they might even get a treato!
If you need some retail respite, head along the High Street to one of Stamford’s scandi themed coffee shops – Scandimania or Fika – both serve great coffee, fab food and are dog friendly inside and out!
Katie Cardew
6 St Mary’s Street
Katie Cardew is a legit local treasure – in 2013 she quit her London office job to follow her passion – illustration. Fast forward 11 years and she’s an established artist, interior designer and now has three stores one of which is in Stamford. You’ll find the store on St Mary’s Street – home to many of Stamford’s most exclusive independent shops – and it’s well worth a visit.
Head here for bold, bright, unique art prints, homewares and gifts all designed by Katie herself, many of which are produced in the UK. Katie’s pieces make beautiful gifts and there are a number of unique Stamford products. Katie is a dog lover herself, which explains the wonderful range of dog themed products, perfect for the dog lovers in your life. It goes without saying, that dogs are welcome in store. It’s just pawsome!
Marcia May
36 St Mary’s Street
Staying on St Mary’s Street, Marcia May covers all the bases with two stores of the same name – one selling quality men’s and women’s shoes and the other selling children’s clothes, shoes, toys and gifts.
The adult shoe shop has a great selection and the staff are both knowledgeable and helpful. If you’re looking for beautifully made, quality children’s clothing, shoes, toys and gifts, head next door to the junior store, it’s just delightful.
If you find yourself in need of a pick me up, head next door to Stamford Country Lounge where you and your pup will receive a warm welcome. The coffee here is decent, food is delicious and the cakes are mouth-wateringly good! Treat yourself!
Simply Stamford
2 St Mary’s Street
Another St Mary’s favourite, this stunning independent store stocks quality home furnishings, homewares and gifts. The shop was launched in 2020 by two friends who have a passion for beautiful home interiors and they take pride in personally choosing each item they sell.
Here you’ll find all things home including lighting, mirrors, vases, glasses, jugs, trays, home fragrance, lighting, soft furnishings and kitchenware all with the signature Simply Stamford sparkle and style. Well behaved dogs are very welcome to join you while you browse.
You Stamford
30 St Mary’s Street
Nestled just behind St Mary’s Church is Stamford’s most established lifestyle boutique where you and your pooch will receive a relaxed and friendly welcome.
There is a gorgeous selection of gifts and lifestyle accessories (including Parlane, Biggie Best and our personal favourite, Jellycat) a stunning selection of cards and stationery and a fabulous range of bath, beauty and home fragrance items. It’s almost impossible to leave empty handed!
If you need a rest from your retail therapy, cross the street to Lamberts in Cheyne Lane where you and your pup can both enjoy some refreshment. They have a doggy menu with everything from chews to treat pots and dinner bowls to drinks.
Harrison and Dunn
3 All Saints’ Street
Harrison and Dunn opened it’s doors in 1930 and this independent shop is a Stamford institution. The business is now run by Mr Dunn’s grandsons David and John and although times and the items in stock have changed over the years, the personal and dedicated service to it’s customers has not.
Spread over two floors, this is a store that really does sell everything including hardware, gardening supplies, car accessories, and baking, cooking and cleaning items. It’s rare that one visits Harrison and Dunn empty handed because you’ll either find something you need or find something that you never know you needed!
The staff here are real dog lovers and keep a stash of treats behind the counter for their furry friends. They’re as generous with the fussing as they are with the treats and Teddy makes no secret that it’s one of his favourite shops. He’s actually been known to stage a sit in protest at the shop door until we take him in!
Feeling thirsty? Head next door to the Millstone Pub for some liquid refreshment. There’s a big beer garden with plenty of space outside although dogs are very welcome inside and out. There’s treats for the good bois and gals too!
Freckleface
11 Red Lion Street
Founded by a mother and son in Lincolnshire in 2017, Freckleface has grown into a brand that is now stocked in over 600 shops and is still growing and expanding. Here in the Freckleface store you’ll find a scent-cational selection of home fragrance with everything from reed diffusers to room sprays, candles to oils and of course, Freckleface’s signature wax melts.
Not only is the store dog friendly and the welcome warm, all the products are vegan and all the ingredients are ethical, plastic free and locally sourced where possible. Fun fact: In this family run business everything is made by hand in the workshop up the road in Spalding!
When you’ve finished at Freckleface, pop along to The Crown Hotel for a sip and a sit down. If it’s a fine day, grab a seat in the stunning beer garden and don’t forget to grab your pup some complimentary dog biscuits from the bar!
St Martin’s Antiques Centre
23a High Street St Martin’s
For all things antique head to St Martin’s Antiques Centre which is a vast space filled with everything from furniture to books and all items in between. You’ll find pieces from over 70 dealers all under one roof and well behaved dogs are welcome.
There’s so much variety here and the collections change regularly so there is always something new to see. There is so much to peruse – it’s well worth a visit – and who knows what you’ll go home with!
If you need a sit down after all that, head up High Street St Martin’s to the dog friendly Bull and Swan pub for some liquid refreshment.
Have you got a favourite dog friendly store where you live? And to my fellow Stamfordians, have you got any dog friendly independent shops to add to the list?
