Dun Cow, Durham

C15th Grade II Listed pub in the 2021 GBG. Thin corridor offers a sliding door to the front bar or a more standard portal to the rear lounge. The rear lounge is traditional, low ceiling, brown wooden seating with some bench seating. Very friendly staff and Castle Eden Ale in fine condition.

Loved this old pub although we had to sit alone in the lounge as the snug bar was full. A few other customers chose to sat outside at the front. Feels very old fashioned and 1970s in decor as Graham has noted. Good pint of Landlord.

The Durham classic with a front snug bar accessed through a sliding door and a larger lounge room at the rear down the side alleyway. Unspoilt in the way of not having been messed about with for many years and retains a sort of 1970/80's feel. There is a yard with a smoking area at the back, and a few tables were stacked up which presumably are used somewhere when the weather is fine. The beers on offer at time of visit were Castle Eden, Black Sheep and Moorhouses White Witch, and still with the keg Trophy as mentioned below.

Historic old pub almost opposite the imposing red brick university building. Two rooms accessed via a side corridor, and in this corridor you can read about the legend of the Dun Cow (which sounds like a load of old cobblers to me). Star of the show is the carpeted and wood panelled front snug which has a slide door (woe betide anyone who doesn’t close it behind them on a chilly day). Pretty small is the snug and it was already full at quarter past midday. The fireplace has been bricked over which is a shame. Next door down is the lounge which looks like two rooms knocked into one. To the right is a spartan whitewashed area whilst the left is more comfortable, set for informal dining and hosts a wood burning stove which was sadly unlit as it was pretty chilly. Five ales on, a house beer - Castle Eden - from Cameron's (very good nick) Cameron's Gold, Copper Dragon Golden Pippen and Black Sheep. Trophy Special on keg, not seen that for a while. Taciturn barmaid, I thought they prided themselves on their friendliness up this way? Seems like she was the daughter of the landlady, who was a lot better at serving customers. The mardy service excepted, I liked this one – but it is based around bagging a seat in the characterful front bar.