Kennelgate Weston Favell

In Northampton we are fairly well served for pet shops, one being Kennelgate Weston Favell. Kennelgate are a chain of about 20 stores, mostly concentrated around the Midlands. In this article I give my opinion about the Weston Favell branch. Feel free to agree or disagree with my opinion by commenting on this article if you wish.

Kennelgate Weston Favell – What I Like

Whilst there are larger pet shops within Northampton I do still find myself visiting Kennelgate from time to time. On more than one occasion I’ve found that they stock an item that other high street pet shops don’t. Let me give you a couple of examples. Before we started raw feeding Archie, we used a very high quality kibble called Orijen. It’s an expensive dog food and the best deals are usually obtained online. Most high street pet shops don’t stock it but I was pleased to see Kennelgate did. Wandering around the branch I noticed they seem to stock a number of the better quality brands.

Being a dog walker I go through a fair number of balls. Some tennis balls won’t last one walk with some dogs who like to destroy them. The balls that seem to be indestructible are those made by Chuckit. I’ve never been able to buy these from Pets At Home but I can find them at Kennelgate. Sometimes you get the sense that some shops don’t stock what the customer wants to buy but rather what provides the best profit mark up. Kennelgate gets my business because I can find the brands I want. I refuse to buy crap quality, even if it is cheaper.

Another thing I like about Kennelgate is their opening hours. For busy working people Kennelgate are open hours to suit. Between Monday and Friday they are open between 9:00am and 8:00pm. On Saturday it’s 9:00am to 6:00pm and Sunday they are open 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Whilst not a huge store there is also a grooming studio inside. If you prefer there is also a very handy self service dog wash and dryer which I have used a couple of times. It’s a great design, easy for dogs to get in and at the right height unlike a regular bath at home (so less chance of backache). On the two times I used it the cost was £5.00 but I’ve been told that it’s increased to £7.50 which I feel is expensive for what it is. You can upgrade this self service with added extras like nail clipping and teeth cleaning which the staff will do should you wish. On the subject of the staff I should say that I’ve always found them knowledgeable and friendly.

Kennelgate Weston Favell – What I Don’t Like

There isn’t much to complain about to be honest. Sure prices are cheaper online but that’s to be expected considering the overheads of maintaining a high street presence. Compared to other high street pet stores I find their prices to be fair. The only gripe really is their car park. They are located on Octagon Way, sharing a car park with a number of other popular shops and businesses. These include White Cross Vets, Northants Flooring, Domino’s Pizza and the Mandarin Buffet. Whilst I have always been able to park, I get the sense that the number of spaces is barely enough for the number of retailers here.

I’d be curious to know what your thoughts are about Kennelgate Weston Favell. If you have a different favourite local pet shop let me know which one and I might try and check it out and review it in future.