Good news for pet parents, bad news for those who aren’t such huge fans of man’s best friend. Pampered pooches reign the streets of Fitzrovia, flush with Georgian architecture, old-school pubs, quaint coffee shops and some not-so-secret celebrity dwellings – and soon the area could be set for a sumptuous new hotel for mutts.
The titular ‘dog hotel’ is not a wholly new establishment but new expansion plans by a luxury, welfare-focused pet grooming centre called Fido’s of Fitzrovia. The Great Portland Street business has requested permission from Westminster Council to board a limited number of dogs overnight on its ground and basement floor levels.
Fido’s currently offers acupuncture, microbubble therapy and ‘pawdicures’ for its clientele. The boarding setup will be equally lavish, featuring six temperature-controlled sleeping pods.
With luxury treatment fit for the most royal of king charles spaniels, you’d think this neighbourhood of dog-lovers would be rejoicing at the prospect of a lavish overnight stay for their beloved pooches. However, a number of residents are reportedly frustrated with Fido’s plans, reckoning that the dog hotel will disrupt everyday life.
Some objectors to the plans have said dogs staying overnight in Fido’s will cause ‘torturous and unbearable noise’ in their homes. Another resident, who has lived in the area for 25 years, has described the plans as ‘wholly incompatible with the surrounding residential use.’
‘Residents are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their homes,’ they said, arguing that the scale and nature of the proposal would ‘fundamentally and negatively alter living conditions for a large number of people.’
Fido’s of Fitzrovia’s owner Anneleen Akle has responded to the complaints, stating the claims about noise were ‘scaremongering’ and ‘outrageous lies.’
‘Despite some early opposition around the boarding plans, local resistance appears limited,’ she told Time Out.
‘The team behind Fido’s have addressed all council requirements, including detailed acoustic assessments, and maintain the operation will be low-impact and carefully managed.’
’The team is confident that the planning application will be judged on evidence and facts, with a positive outcome,’ she added.
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