FAQs

What should I wear?

Wear something you don't mind getting dirty and hairy. The perfect outfit is jeans or tracksuit bottoms with trainers and a t-shirt/hoodie/sweater. We don't recommend wearing white or anything expensive. Wellies are a good idea if we are expecting rain but frankly it is nearly always sunny and dry here! The indoor venue we use for our Winter Experience is immune to weather issues so no need for wellies or raincoats.

A spare change of shirt and trousers is a great idea if you want to go for something to eat after your Experience. If you don't get dirty here you haven't had enough fun!

How do I find The GRE?

We do not disclose our exact location until an official booking is made, this is to ensure the safety of our dogs. Our full address and directions to find us will be given in your confirmation email once a booking is made. Please note that our Summer Experience is at a different location to our Winter Experience so please pay attention to the address given in your confirmation email. Both experiences are near Minehead & Dunster in West Somerset, UK if you want to know where to book a room.

How do I find the 28 bus schedule?

Click here

28 - Richard Huish College - Butlins Main Gate via Bishops Lydeard, Williton, Watchet – First Buses of Somerset – bustimes.org

Can I get a taxi from the train station / airport to the GRE?

We have a great local taxi service called Anchor Taxis & Travel that can collect you from any train station or airport and bring you right to our door or to your chosen accommodation. They can also take you back to the train station or airport etc. All of their taxis are wheelchair accessible.

Anchor Taxis & Travel also have a local Tour Division if you are staying for a few days and want a private tour of the local area to see such things as our amazing Exmoor National Park, the tallest trees in England behind Dunster Castle, the Devon coastline, Glastonbury, Cheddar Gorge or Stonehenge. There is so much to see here that you could easily fill a weekend in the area.

If you would like to book Anchor Taxis & Travel in Minehead then contact Matt on 07872 857 284 or book via email on mattanchortaxi@gmail.com or inquire through the website Airport Transfer Service | Anchor Taxis and Travel . Their office number is 01643 724 240

Best advice is to book any taxi service you need well in advance as they get booked up quickly!

Taunton Train Station to GRE or GRE to Taunton Train Station - £50 on weekdays - £100 round trip. Weekends £80 each way or £160 round trip. These rates save you £10 in each direction on normal taxi rates for Taunton Train Station.

Is there accommodation locally to stay overnight?

Yes, you have so many choices to choose from like The Dunster Castle Hotel which is in the closest village to us and one of the most perfect medieval locations in England. The village of Dunster is only a 15 minute walk from our Summer Experience or minutes by car and it has the world famous 11th Century Dunster Castle which overlooks the hotel & village. They also do a lovely breakfast at The Dunster Castle Hotel which is included with your room!

Book The Dunster Castle Hotel with John & Lisa here Dunster Castle Hotel

If you call to make your booking on Tel: 01643 82 30 30 you can ask for the GRE 10% discount or Email: enquiries@dunstercastlehotel.co.uk

The Dunster Castle Hotel also has parking on site for smaller cars.

We'd also recommend Croydon Hall, a gorgeous hotel which is just a 12 minute drive from us. This hotel has spectacular views, fantastic food, a heated outdoor pool, spa and gym.

Croydon Hall offers a special 10% discount on hotel rooms to customers and friends of The GRE, available all year round!

Simply book via their website www.croydonhall.co.uk and use code GRE in the checkout.

Book At croydon hall

What else is there to do near The GRE?

Dunster Castle and Medieval Village is less than a mile away and they have daily tours of the castle & grounds. In Dunster you can have lunch in the Luttrell Arms' Secret Garden with views of the castle, visit some fine art galleries like The Medieval Gallery or do some boutique shopping. From Dunster, you can see the tallest tree in England or take a ride on the West Somerset Steam Railway from the picturesque Dunster Station by Dunster Beach which is perfect for the dogs. In Minehead, you can visit their long sandy beaches, play golf along the beach course, play arcade games at the seafront, look through surf shops and have cream tea at their cute tearooms on The Parade. There is also a Butlins if you want to turn your trip into a full-on holiday. See Anchor Taxi & Travel above if you want a personal tour of Exmoor National Park. Walk the South West Coast Path or visit our TV Famous neighbour Chris's Crackers Junk Shop for some architectural salvage & antiques. The list is endless!

Are there tours of the local area if we decide to stay for a few days?

Yes, we have a great tour company that we work with closely who will show you the area and all the top spots of interest. See the FAQ above for Anchor Taxis & Travel contact details.

Do you accept all ages?

Absolutely! Our dogs are great with everyone from babies to the elderly. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket. Parents need to ensure that children are respectful of the dogs, for example there should be no tail-pulling or screaming etc. In addition, physical and mental disabilities are no problem as we can ensure that only the calmest and most mature dogs are involved in your session.

Will the dogs bite me?

It is not in the nature of Golden Retrievers to bite but if you choose to take a ball from their mouths while we are playing fetch, then you accept full responsibility for any injuries caused by retrieving balls. We have expertly trained our dogs to be respectful and obedient, and not once have they been aggressive towards humans. You're more likely to be licked to death than bitten!

Can we bring our own dog(s) with us?

Unfortunately, due to Licensing and Insurance restrictions, we can no longer allow guests to bring their dogs to the experience. This is to ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and dogs. However, you can leave your dog at our new Doggy Daycare which costs £12.50 an hour and is located on our property. Please book this via the 'book now' button on our website.

How long can we spend at The GRE?

Our minimum stay is a 2-hour session because you'll need enough time for briefing and playing with the dogs, and trust us - 1 hour is not enough! If you want anything longer then you can book several sessions in a row! Or do 2 hours in the morning, take 2 hours off for a nice lunch somewhere and then have another 2 hours with the dogs before heading home in the afternoon. You can even book the entire day at The GRE if the slots are available. If you are staying in the area overnight then you can also have 2 hours on day one and then 2 hours the next day before you go home, for that second injection of golden retriever affection.

Do I need to bring anything?

We recommend that you check the weather for our area before you leave so that you come with either suncream & hat, waterproofs or warm jackets where appropriate. Otherwise, just bring yourselves!

We do recommend you bring a spare change of clothes if you want to go for a nice lunch after your session.

Can we bring treats for the dogs?

You’re welcome to bring any treats with you but we’re not able to give the treats to the dogs in sessions as it can become too chaotic. However, we’ll be sure to give them the treats later that evening!

How many people can we bring?

Our capacity is 15 adults and up to 5 children, and our online booking system will let you know how many slots are left in each session. We kindly ask that if there is only 1 ticket left for a session, please get in touch before trying to bring extra people along.

Are you wheelchair accessible?

Yes we are wheelchair accessible but please note that the ground is a bit bumpy due to it being grassy, this is usually fine for most wheelchair users but do get in touch if you think this will be an issue.

Why can't I book a 3-hour session anymore?

Unfortunately we have discontinued the 3-hour sessions but if you still have a 3-hour gift certificate to use then please email us at bookings@thegoldenretrieverexperience.com with your gift certificate code and the date and time you'd like to book onto so we can make a 3 hour slot available for you.

What happens if the weather is really bad on my day?

The Summer Experience is an outdoor experience and cuddling wet dogs isn't always ideal so we are happy to allow our customers to reschedule their session if preferred. We now have an Indoor Venue next to Tesco in Minehead so we can switch to this location at a moments notice if the weather is going to be bad but that will be an indoor experience only. If customers do want to go ahead with the session indoors then sessions can go ahead. The Winter Experience is indoors so there's no need to worry about weather from October to March!

I don't want to join in on the session, so can I just spectate for free?

No, unfortunately we do not allow spectators on the property without a ticket. We also cannot allow spectators to sit in their car on the property while the session commences because the dogs will undoubtedly want to come over and say hello, and this will distract them from the guests who have paid to see them.

There is only 1 ticket left for my time slot but can I bring another person with me?

Feel free to contact us if you require additional tickets or try finding another date and time slot that can accommodate your whole party.

Can I leave my child at the GRE without buying a ticket for myself?

No, unfortunately all children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket.

Why won't the booking system let me add a Child ticket to my order?

Customers need to select at least 1 Adult or Concession ticket before a Child ticket can be selected. This is to ensure that children are not left unsupervised.

I'm a Concession buying tix for my Non-Concession friends - can I pay the Concession price for them?

No, unfortunately Concession tickets (Student, Senior, Military, NHS) can only be purchased if the ticket holder is a Concession. We will ask to see proof of Student/Senior/Military/NHS ID on arrival.

Can I buy a gift certificate to use at a later date?

Yes, you can purchase a gift certificate or gift card via the 'book now' button on our website. Once you have paid for this through our online booking system, you can download one of our free, customisable templates on our Gift Certificates page www.thegoldenretrieverexperience.com/gift-certificates and print/frame it to give as a physical gift. Please note that the free templates cannot be used as proof of purchase.

I have a 3-hour gift certificate, how do I use it?

If you need to redeem a 3-hour gift certificate, please email us on bookings@thegoldenretrieverexperience.com with your gift certificate code and the date and time you'd like to book.