Beaulieu Garden centre Fairweather's bans dogs after nine foul in its gift shop in a weekend

BEAULIEU garden centre Fairweather's has had to ban dogs after nine fouled in its gift shop over just one weekend.

The four-legged visitors urinated, vomited, and defecated in the shop attached to the popular High Street business – with some owners not even cleaning up the mess.

Fairweather's announced the new rule on social media revealing: “We do love seeing your furry companion, but we don't like cleaning up the mess. When one leaves its mark others follow, and we are sure you don't want to buy something pre-marked!”

The message sparked some dog owners to say they would not visit the garden centre in future. But the majority of others said they supported the move.

One said: “I fully understand your decision but what a pity you can’t impose a lifetime ban on the humans who have failed to train their dogs.”

Another said: “Good for you, why people have to take dogs into a gift shop is beyond me.”

Speaking to the A&T Lisa Smith, personal assistant to the owner of the centre, Patrick Fairweather, said: “We absolutely love our doggy friends. We even have dog treats at the tills for them.

“But this one weekend was an absolute nightmare. We had nine dogs fouling in the gift shop.

“One urinated and then the others followed as they could smell it. Another one pooed in the shop, and its owner just left it.

“Another one vomited and that was not cleared up either. We have food and gifts in the shop, you just can’t have dogs doing that.”

The pets are still allowed in the outside area of the garden centre and in the patio seating space of its café.

Ms Smith said: “We were really sad we had to take the decision, but we did not want someone to buy something, take it home and think ‘What’s that smell?'.

“Also, with food items we really can’t take any chance.

“I think a lot of the trouble is that people are looking at things in the gift shop and they take their eye of their dogs so don’t see what they’ve done.”

She said dogs are more than welcome at all outdoor areas at the centre, and there is a quick till people can access which does not involve going through the gift shop.

This week Fairweather's had to close its popular cafe Steff's Kitchen after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. It will re-open on 13th July. A takeaway service is available until then.