I try and take mine to most places in the UK, and I frankly don't go to places that don't let me

You may find that more places are taking dogs now as they realise it's a bit of a marketing ploy during the recession.
Bluebelle comes to pet stores and our local pub (just the bar area) and a couple of other pubs that aren't so local.
So strange that 20 miles across the sea in France you can take the dog wherever you want!