The Courthouse Hotel

The Courthouse Hotel sits on Peel Street in the heart of Tamworth, and after a renovation it runs as a full service pub: bistro, courtyard, a play area for children and regular live music. Visitors report the outdoor courtyard as dog friendly space, with Google listing level evidence backing it, though the venue's own site sits behind bot protection so the exact wording has not been confirmed.

The dog setup

Ask for the courtyard when you arrive: that is where patrons sit with dogs, per reports from visitors and the venue's promotion of the space. It is a busy pub on weekend nights, so early dinners are the calmer option with a dog in tow. Water is usually available on request, and keeping your dog clear of the play area edge is sensible when families pack in. Weekday lunches are noticeably quieter than the Thursday to Saturday nights, which run well past dinner.

The menu runs to pub classics done properly: lamb skewers, rump steak and a steak sandwich that gets regular mentions. Doors open at 10am daily and the pub trades late Thursday to Saturday, with live music filling the calendar, so lunch and early dinner suit dogs best. Trading runs to 2am on weekend nights, so plan the dog's evening around a first sitting rather than the busy middle.

Street parking around Peel Street fills quickly on weekends; the side streets off the main strip are the fallback. The pub is central enough to pair with a walk through town before you settle in. Arrive before the dinner peak if you want a courtyard table without a wait.

For coffee the next morning, Panela Cafe and Bar covers the other end of the day, and the Tamworth destination guide ties the town together. Tamworth Holiday Park makes an easy base with the dog, and our list of dog friendly pubs in NSW rounds out the state.