Where To Eat

We're richly endowed with eateries around here.  From Northern chippies all the way to Michelin stars, every taste is catered for (Except on Sunday, when everyone does a Sunday Lunch then collapses with exhaustion - eating out on a sunday evening is a challenge.)

The Bishop's Grill restaurant at Park Head Hotel, Bishop Auckliand

Local restaurants nearby and further up Weardale

  • The Red Lion at North Bitchburn. It has new owners but the original kitchen team which made the place so popular for so long is re-instated. It's only a few minutes' drive away. We do have a sample menu. Tel: 01388 767071. (No food is served on a Wednesday evening).
  • Viva Italian Restaurant, an Italian restaurant in the centre of Crook serving not only pasta and pizza, but also more "formal" meals. It's closed on a Monday. Many guests have enjoyed dinner there. We do have a sample menu. Tel: 01388 762424.Crook.
  • The Duke of York, at Fir Tree (on the A68). Several guests have reported very good food at reasonable prices. Open every day, food served 'til late. Tel: 01388 767429.
  • The Copper Mine (formerly the Colliery) At the end of Low Job's Hill (turning right out of the gate), turn left towards Durham and it's about 100 yards along on the left. Re-opened as a Bar/Restaurant in October 2015. Tel: 01388 763333 . We like it, and have had many good reports so far! We do have a sample menu.
  • Arcangelo (2016).  A new Italian Restaurant at the corner of Hope Street and North Street in CrookWe don’t know what it’s like yet, but guests who'ver been there tell us its good valu, if not terribly sophisticated. We do have a sample menu.  Tel: 01388  327435.
  • Carriage Restaurant, at the top end of Hope Street (no. 36) serves good home-cooked traditional English food. Open for evening meals on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays last orders are at 8 pm. Tel: 01388 762859.
  • The Horse Shoe Inn (A JD Wethersdpons inn), serves , predictable fare available at most times.  Tel: 01388 744980.
  • The Foresters Guesthouse in Stanley Crook also serves evening meals (Wed – Sat)and Sunday lunch.  Do ring first to book.   Tel:  01388 762207.
  • Black Bull, Frosterley.  Good food, good fun - a characterful place, with a real character as the landlord.

Restaurants in Durham

  • Spaghettata, 66 Saddler Street, Durham DH1 3NP, tel: 0191 383 9290
  • Ricardo’s, 17 Hallgarth Street, Durham DH1 3AT, tel: 0191 384 4007 - opposite the Student Union building - both offer inexpensive Italian food. 
  • Other Italian places are Che Vita in Station Lane, tel: 0191 384 1010
  • Emilio’s is yet another, but a bit more down-market on Elvet Bridge, tel: 0191 384 0096. 
  • Bella Italia is at the Castle side of Framwellgate Bridge (Silver Street), tel: 0191 386 1060.
  • Also in Saddler Street, nos 41-42 is the Cellar Door aptly named as a steep staircase leads down to the restaurant which has wonderful river views and terraces for summertime dining – bistro type, reasonably adventurous food, tel: 0191 383856.
  • Lebaneat, is Durham’s only Lebanese restaurant open at lunchtime and in the evening at 47 North Bailey, tel: 0191 384 6777
  • La Tasca, is almost next door and serves good Spanish tapas – part of a chain, but none the worse for that, tel: 08451262958
  • The newish Walkergate development by the Gala Theatre has attracted several national “chain” restaurants, namely Nandos, ASK, Chiquito’s, Slug & Lettuce and Fat Buddha.
  • There are several Indian restaurants in Durham, the best among them being Shaheen’s in North Bailey, tel: 0191 386 0960, and The Capital at 69 Claypath tel:0191 386 8803, which are both traditional curry houses with good, friendly service.  
  • Zen offers excellent South East Asian cuisine and is open all day from 9am. It’s in Court Lane, opposite the Crown Court. Tel: 0191 384 9588.  www.zendurham.co.uk
  • For a cup of coffee and a cake, or a sandwich at lunchtime, the Picnic Basket (take away food), also in New Elvet, offers good quality food with friendly service.  Or, for something a bit more substantial at lunchtime, the Crypt restaurant in the Cathedral is reliable, as is the Café on the Green on Palace Green.
  • There is also the Court Inn, which is distinguished by its willingness to accept dogs – and our guests tell us the food is good too.  It is a family owned and managed pub, with pleasant areas located inside and outside for drinks and meals. A wide range of quality dishes are served at sensible prices with real ale on tap. An urban oasis with a friendly ambience and "mobile free" zone so everyone can truly relax.  Tel: 0191 384 7350.
  • If you want to push the boat out try Oro at the Pump House, Farm Road, Houghall, Durham DH1 3PJ.  Tel: 0191 384 0832;  DH1, The Avenue, Durham, DH1 4DX.  Tel 0191 384 6655.

Worth making a trip for - within about half-an-hour’s drive from Dowfold House – are

  • The Rose & Crown, Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, DL12 9EB.  Tel 01833 650213;
  • Blagrave’s House, Barnard Castle, DL12 8PN.  Tel 01833 637668; 
  • The Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland, DH8 9SP.  Tel 01434 675469 The Raby Hunt, Michelin Starred at Summerhouse, Nr Darlington DL2 3UD. Tel 01325 374237

Further afield

  • Blackfriars Restaurant, Newcastle.  One of the oldest dining rooms in the UK, 
    and great for special events and mediaeval banquets. 
  • Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, Wark, Nr Hexham.  The style is primarily modern British 
    but with a smattering of international choices for those with a more cosmopolitan palate. 

Fresh from the Farm

  • Bradley Burn Farm Shop, near Wolsingham, stocks lots of good stuff, much of it grown on the farm.  We get most of our bread flour from there - and the potatoes for the potato bread.
  • Lowfields Farm Shop, Willington

IF you have any ideas and suggestions as to what else might be on these pages, please do let us know, by emailing us HERE.  We're grateful for any ideas.

Note that these links are to external websites.  We at Dowfold House can take no responsibility for their content, or even their existence, although we do try to make sure they are good links that do work.  You visit them at your own risk.