Northumberland Castle Urges Crufts Champ to Get on the Dog and Bone

The owner of the Crufts 2023 ‘Toy’ breed category champion, Dublin, is being urged to take up their right to a stay at a Northumberland castle hotel and give their champion dog a delightful break, living like a king.

As well as a royal welcome for Dublin, there is also a double or twin-bedded dog-friendly room awaiting their owner’s arrival, for a free B&B overnight stopover.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ch Ellemich American Express, known as Dublin, comes from a breed that Langley Castle (www.langleycastle.co.uk, located a short distance from Hexham, identified as having a strong link to the castle.  Dublin fulfilled the requirement to win a stay at the castle, by being a category winner, so is now entitled to a right regal spot of recreation at England’s most authentic castle hotel.

Langley Castle says Dublin can experience everything detailed in its downloadable ‘Doggy Guide to Canine Castle Capers’.  This includes a Poochy Déjeuner treat of sausages and eggs, a doggy Certificate of Stay as proof of having sojourned and the opportunity to check out the ‘Scents of Place’ guide that details 7 great aromas for dogs to sniff out in the 10-acre grounds.

The guide also offers plenty of advice for travelling to Northumberland, details dog-friendly places to visit during a stay, gives tips on how to stay safe and even offers the contact information for local vets.

Langley Castle’s executive general manager, Margaret Livingstone-Evans, says, “We adore our canine visitors and would love to meet Dublin.  I have recently just got a new puppy myself, so maybe he could pick up some hot tips on how to become a Crufts champion.”

The fact a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has met the prize’s criteria is just perfect, as Langley Castle has deep roots to the Stuart monarchy.  

The castle was once owned by fervent Stuart supporters, the Radcliffe brothers, Earls of Derwentwater, grandchildren of Charles II and his mistress Moll Davis.  Their royal uncle was James II, living in exile in France, having been overthrown.   James Radcliffe, grew up there, as a childhood companion to his cousin, the Old Pretender, James Edward Stuart.  Shortly after his return to England, in 1714, he was encouraged to lead a Jacobite uprising, to try to put his cousin James back on the throne.

He and his brother Charles were both captured after the disastrous Battle of Preston.  Both were taken to London.  James was beheaded at The Tower, but Charles escaped from Newgate Prison and fled.  In 1745, he was heading to England to take part in a second Jacobite rebellion, to put Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart) on the throne, when he was captured at sea.  He then suffered the same fate as his brother.

The two brothers are regarded as heroes by Jacobite societies across the UK and Langley Castle has a special commemorative bench donated by its local branch.  Just a short distance down the road, there is an official monument to the two Radcliffes.

Langley hopes Dublin’s owners will call the team on 01434 688888 soon.  In the meantime, it will continue to extend the same warm welcome to all other doggy visitors.         

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Editors notes

Langley Castle, built in 1350, is located in Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland and is one of the few authentic, fortified medieval castles in England. It has a rich history, with strong links to Jacobite rebellions, is located just a stone's throw from the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall and boasts features including battlements, seven-feet-thick walls, window seats set into the walls and the best example of medieval garderobes in Europe. It is one of the most exquisite wedding venues in the north and also offers a wide range of options when it comes to exclusive use, with the castle being available for weddings, family celebrations, Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs, D&D-style events and a wide variety of corporate functions.