Hebe - our USP!

When we opened Dolly’s in July 2011 we joked that Hebe the Labrador was our Unique Selling Point.  Before opening the tea room, Dolly worked at Amos & Penny Vets in Penryn and Hebe would go along to work with Dolly and sit behind reception with her friends Molly and Jack the spaniels, and she built up a long list of friends who would bring her presents and give her tummy rubs.

We decided to make Dolly’s dog-friendly and we refer to Hebe as Head of Security.  She greets customers at the top of the stairs (sometimes a little too enthusiastically), accompanies them to their table and will sit patiently with them in the hope that they will order food.  She has her own fan club.  Dolly was walking through town recently and had a pig’s ear thrust at her for Hebe!  She was even given Christmas presents from Dolly’s regulars. She loves Sam the post lady but her favourite visitor is Sandra from the butchers – no prizes for guessing why.

Unfortunately since setting up the business Hebe has gained 4kg (much to the frustration of Emma and Kelley from the vets).  Well, she is a Labrador after all.  The Hoover doesn’t get much action when Hebe is about.  We have had to put a notice on the tables asking people not to feed her but we feel her persuasion methods are not all together above board.  Although she has never been placed in ‘dog with the most appealing eyes’ at the Landerio Show we believe she is using them to her advantage.  She is not allowed at the bar on really busy nights, as it is impossible to keep tabs on her.  She has, though, on occasion visited Mango Tango and 8 Bar!

If Hebe takes any time off from the bar - she recently went to St Mawes on the ferry with her friend Ruth – there are disappointed customers.  The staff at Dolly’s are heard to say, ‘Oh she’s out at the moment and will be back around 4.’  We are aware that some people only come to Dolly’s because of Hebe.  She has even managed to convert some anti-dog people to a point of woofer toleration.  She has been wearing a strong of pearls for the last couple of weeks, in celebration of the Jubilee and now of course it is Ascot Week.....  She is very pleased with her new look and the attention she is receiving.