The Spotted Dog

A traditional village pub and restaurant in Cold Ash

The Spotted Dog is a public house and restaurant in Cold Ash, a village near Thatcham in Berkshire. The site is described as having begun as a blacksmith and forge in the mid-1800s before being altered over time into the pub that operates today.

The pub describes itself as family and dog friendly and says it welcomes dogs. It also reports disabled access for wheelchair users. Its setting includes a large private car park, a newly enclosed garden with a playground, and a Tiki Bar, presented as safe for children and dogs. The building sits just off the main road through Cold Ash, next to another local pub, The Castle.

Food: from light bites to a full three-course meal

The kitchen serves what the pub calls fresh, home-cooked food, with a menu intended to cover a broad range of occasions, from light bites to a full three-course meal. Dishes are available in the bar and in the refurbished restaurant or dining room. The menu structure published on the site includes:

• A lunchtime and evening menu
• A lunchtime/evening set menu available Monday to Thursday
• A Sunday roast menu
• A desserts menu
• A children's menu
• A Christmas menu for 2026
• A buffet menu

The pub also advertises Sunday roasts and accepts table bookings by phone or email.

Drinks at the bar

Open daily, the pub serves a selection of real ales alongside a variety of wines, spirits and soft drinks. This drinks offer is presented as part of the everyday operation of the bar rather than as a separate venue.

Events and private functions

The site lists events and private functions among its sections, indicating that the pub takes bookings for functions in addition to ordinary table reservations. No further detail on capacity, room options or event formats is provided in the available material.

The 2014 fire and the refurbishment

According to the pub's own account, a tumble dryer caught fire in May 2014 and destroyed a large area of the pub and kitchen. Three months later, following a refurbishment put at £250,000, the pub reopened with a complete renovation that included a large drinking and eating area, a refitted kitchen and a new bespoke solid oak bar.

Booking a table

Reservations are taken by telephone or by email. For email bookings the pub asks for the customer's name, a contact number, the date and time of the booking and the number of people. The same contact details are used for general enquiries.