Dating with an assistance dog means planning venues and journeys around a working animal, and being refused entry or a lift can turn a date into a confrontation. This guide summarises the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) guide “Assistance dogs: a guide for all businesses” (2017) and the text of sections 168, 170 and 173 of the Equality Act 2010 on legislation.gov.uk, as up to date on 9 October 2026. The EHRC guide and the taxi provisions apply in Great Britain; Northern Ireland is not covered here. It is general information, not legal advice. Only a court can decide whether a particular refusal is unlawful. This site’s guides to dating as a disabled person and to getting home after a date cover the wider picture.
What counts as an assistance dog
Section 173 of the Act defines an assistance dog as a dog trained to guide a blind person, a dog trained to assist a deaf person, a dog trained by a prescribed charity to assist a disabled person whose disability consists of epilepsy or otherwise affects mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or the ability to lift, carry or move everyday objects, or a dog of a prescribed category trained to assist a person with a prescribed kind of disability.
The EHRC guide says assistance dogs help people with hearing difficulties, epilepsy, diabetes, physical mobility problems and more, and are treated as “auxiliary aids”, not pets. It says the law does not require the dog to wear a harness or jacket, and that a person should not be refused a service because they have no ID book.
Restaurants, bars and other venues
The EHRC guide states that it would be unlawful to refuse a service to a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog except in the most exceptional circumstances, and that only a court can determine whether a refusal is unlawful. It explains that a “no dogs” policy can be indirect discrimination unless objectively justified, and that it will often be reasonable to disapply such a policy for assistance dog owners, so that failing to do so would amount to unlawful discrimination. A venue that advertises that assistance dogs are not welcome may also be discriminating.
On food premises, the guide cites the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health as having determined that assistance dogs are unlikely to present a hygiene risk and should be allowed into restaurants, cafes, hotels, food shops and other food premises. It says refusing access because other people “might” be allergic to dogs is likely to be unlawful disability discrimination, though if there is an identifiable person with an allergy the business should take reasonable steps to minimise that person’s contact with dogs, and those steps are unlikely to include banning all assistance dogs. It adds that religious or cultural beliefs are not a defence.
The guide describes assistance dogs as highly trained, for example not to jump up and to lie down at the owner’s feet if the owner sits down to eat. For a date, that is a point to explain calmly if a member of staff is unsure.
Getting home: taxis and private hire
Section 168, which the legislation.gov.uk text shows extends to England, Wales and Scotland, sets duties on the driver of a taxi hired by or for a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog. The driver must carry the dog, allow it to remain with the person and not make, or propose to make, any additional charge. Failing to comply is an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine up to level 3 on the standard scale.
Section 170 applies to private hire vehicles in England, Wales and Scotland. It makes it an offence for the operator to fail or refuse to accept a booking because the disabled person will be accompanied by an assistance dog, for the operator or driver to make or propose an additional charge for carrying the dog, and for the driver to fail or refuse to carry out an accepted booking because of the dog. The same fine limit applies. Other sections of the Act deal with exemptions for some drivers, which this guide does not cover.
Planning ahead and what to do if refused
The EHRC guide suggests that businesses with customer-facing staff display a sign saying assistance dogs are welcome and make sure relevant staff know they must allow access, which means a venue that has done so is a lower-risk choice for a first meeting. Telling the venue or the taxi firm in advance that an assistance dog will be present is a practical step. If a refusal happens, the guide points to the Equality Advisory and Support Service as a free, independent source of advice. As with any date, sharing the plan with a trusted person and having a backup route home remain sensible.
FAQs
Can a restaurant refuse an assistance dog because another diner is allergic?
The EHRC guide says refusing access because others might be allergic is likely to be unlawful discrimination. Where a specific person has an allergy, the business should take reasonable steps to limit that person’s contact with dogs.
Can a taxi driver charge extra for an assistance dog?
No. Section 168 says the driver must not make, or propose to make, any additional charge for carrying the dog.
The bottom line
In Great Britain, the EHRC states that refusing a service to a disabled person with an assistance dog would be unlawful except in the most exceptional circumstances, and, subject to the statutory exemptions, the Equality Act makes it an offence for taxi and private hire drivers and operators to refuse or to charge extra. A date with an assistance dog can therefore expect venues and rides to accommodate the dog, but only a court decides individual cases. Checking the venue and booking transport with the dog in mind reduces the chance of a dispute.
Sources
- Assistance dogs: a guide for all businesses, Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2017 (equalityhumanrights.com)
- Equality Act 2010, section 168: Assistance dogs in taxis (legislation.gov.uk)
- Equality Act 2010, section 170: Assistance dogs in private hire vehicles (legislation.gov.uk)
- Equality Act 2010, section 173: Interpretation of Chapter 1 of Part 12 (legislation.gov.uk)