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Market Tavern, Durham
Durham
DH1 3NJ
Pub Type
Greene KingReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about Market Tavern
The Market Tavern is an L-shaped Green King pub with two seater booths up the left and right-hand walls to the bar area where a serving counter up the right supports premium keg alongside Fosters and six hand pumps, five of which were in use drawing GK IPA and Abbot Ale alongside Landlord, Maxim Brewery’s Swedish Blonde and Lilley’s Mango. At the rear of this bar are steps up to the main seating area that runs off to the left. Televisions are located throughout for airing Sky Sports that was muted while some background music played. This is a comfortable pub with polite service, so I’d pop back in if passing.
On 6th February 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6560 recommendations about 6522 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Market Tavern
Great location on the market square some outdoor seating & a characterful split level interior. 5 real ales.
On 14th May 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3035 recommendations about 2965 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Market Tavern
Formerly known as the City Arms, this charming old pub has a great spot on Durham's delightful market square. There are some seats and tables in front, carefully hemmed in by temporary barriers - this area seemed close to full at the time of my mid-afternoon arrival, but I wanted to sit inside anyway. The interior is tremendous, with old floor boards and dark wood panelling. The bar counter is to the right and rear, with some steps up to a further seating area at the very back of the pub. The manager was friendly and happy to talk about beer and why I hadn't come across any local ones so far. He made up for this with two from Maxim brewery. I went for Double Maxim, an old favourite, and he also gave me a taster of their Blonde, not because I wanted one, but because he wanted to illustrate a point he was making about giving substantial tasters so that the customer can taste the beer with the whole of their mouth (including the swallow) and not just the tip of the tongue. As might be expected from someone who clearly knew what he was talking about, both beers were in excellent condition. (Greene King IPA and Abbot were also on.)
On 25th May 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4674 recommendations about 4283 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Market Tavern
A lovely old pub in the Market Place, dark wood etc, etc, etc, you know the form. Sadly now a Greene King place but in line with their recent self knowledge that their own beers had become vile, they now allow more competent brewer’s beers in a lot of their pubs; this being one. The Double Maxim was an excellent drop.
On 24th January 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3937 recommendations about 3601 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Market Tavern
Updated review:
On this visit to Durham, I finally managed to visit this central Greene King pub, at the third time of asking.
The interior is thin and narrow. The barman/landlord was putting up Christmas decorations at the rear. Walls feature local mining posters.
Greene King IPA is the regular beer here. Although they also had Abbot, Ruddles Best and Hardy & Hanson's Rocking Rudolph. Guests were both from Maxim - Double Maxim & Swedish Blonde. I decided upon a Weston's Old Rosie, but it ran out before the glass could be filled. My replacement was the Swedish Blonde and as with all Greene King pubs, a CAMRA discount was proffered.
Cosy pub that feels a world away from the city centre outside.
Original review 4/8/20
Tried twice to visit this centrally located Greene King pub. Supposed to stay open until midnight on Friday, it was closed and in complete darkness by 11:30. Supposed to stay open until 1am on a Saturday, the door was closed by 10:45. Although, drinkers were still inside finishing off. So, opening times are very unpredictable at the moment. Seeing some of the local drunks hanging around this area probably gives clues as to why they are closing earlier than advertised during these times.
I will return one day and hopefully manage to get in.
On 27th November 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3415 recommendations about 3413 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Market Tavern
With a prime location in the marketplace and an historic interior, this pub clearly aims at passing tourists however there were quite a few regular locals in at time of visit, which ought to be a good sign. Inside there is lots of old woodwork, pictures, brass and copper, with some unusual small built-in tables and various ephemera relating to coal mining as the Durham miners apparently first met in the pub. Despite its Greene King ownership there was a good range of beers including local ales on offer and the quality was good (Cask Marque listing and a Good Beer Guide regular). Food was also good and of traditional pub fare rather than gastro nonsense.
On 5th December 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3900 recommendations about 3832 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Market Tavern
This is now a Greene King pub and I suspect the worse for it as far as beer choice goes. As noted below it's a long narrow room with the bar at the rear right. There's a wooden floor and old beams.
There are still six hand pumps on the bar which had one unused, a cider, GK IPA, London Glory & Rocking Rudolph making Maxim Ward's Best the only viable option. This was in good nick and the £3.60 became £3.24 with the CAMRA discount. However, it was quite a pedestrian beer, I don't recall being that impressed with Ward's beers when they were around.
Despite over half of the beer choice being very dull GK beers this remains in the 2018 GBG. I wouldn't return.
On 3rd December 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Market Tavern
The Market Tavern is as the name implies on Durhams market place with stall outside the pub.
Once inside there is a narrow room to the front with the bar on the right side,the room is bare boarded and the seating limited,there is another room to the rear which is up a few steps,this rooms runs widthways across the pub and is carpeted,the seating here is a bench seat to the left and normal tables and chairs,there was a TV to the left showing BT sports,the rear windows give good views over the indoor market.
There were five real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Wentworth Blonde which went down well,though quite pricey,the other beers i noted were Tyne Bank Heavenly Porter and GK London Glory.
This is a decent enough pub for one drink,if its prices were a bit cheaper then maybe more than one.
Pub visited 19/3/2016
On 9th April 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Market Tavern
Taylor Walker outlet which looks nice and historic from the outside. However there's not a huge amount of history in the long narrow room within. Of note; some booth seating and a raised rear area, stag-themed wallpaper and various framed portraits of long-dead bewigged 18th century noblemen. A small amount of outside seating affords a nice view of the market square. Six pumps, Thwaites Wainwright, two from Wentworth, Westerham 1730 and Maxim American Pride. Also a Somerset cider of some sort. My Maxim was warm and edging towards the turn as well as being quite expensive. In a city like Durham, you’d be better off giving this one a swerve.
On 10th July 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5992 recommendations about 5971 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Market Tavern
On the Market Quare, a comfortable formal long lounge, nice leather seating. Deep red walls, polished vanished flooring. Split level with large stove at one end. A Taylor Walker pub. Beers ok
On 15th June 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1590 recommendations about 1567 pubs]