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Image posted by S Armstrong
Submitted on Monday, 29th May 2023
With picture contributions to 1181 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (22 more images)
Detail Pages
Dun Cow, Durham
Durham
DH1 3HN
Served areas
Reviews of Dun Cow (Average Rating: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about Dun Cow
I couldn’t find the door to the front bar of the Dun Cow, although I will admit that I didn’t look very hard, so I spent my visit in the rear bar. I could hear two or three voices in the front bar, but I was alone, apart from a local who quickly popped his head in looking for someone. The bar area is at the front where a serving counter faces minimal standing room to the right. Premium keg was available and one of the two hand pumps was in use drawing Castle Eden Ale. Towards the rear of this thin room is a red carpeted seating area with banquettes up the left-hand wall that face a burner, flame effect I think, and more banquette seating up the right that wraps across the rear. The small television was off and there was no background music, so I was left with my thoughts, which is a rare thing in pubs these days. While still wondering how to get into the front bar I noted that the food stretches to toasties and that this is apparently the most haunted pub in Durham. With the very polite service, this old school boozer was my kind of place, so I’d gladly return.
On 6th February 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6560 recommendations about 6522 pubs]
Danny O'Revey left this review about Dun Cow
Old traditional pub, multiroomed. Not the friendliest but seems nice enough
On 5th April 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1590 recommendations about 1567 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Dun Cow
Entrance is by a doorway to a kind of external corridor, with a sliding door giving access to the front room. The bar counter is here, with three beers on: Landlord and two from Castle Eden. I got the impression that the bar was a more recent fixture, as there is a door to the right which is now awkwardly placed because of the counter, and a fireplace is right next to the bar, meaning that if it were to be lit, no one could sit near it.
When going along the corridor later in search of the toilet, I was struck by the number of chairs lined up along it - is this a result of Covid spacing - removing chairs from the back room, perhaps. Or do people really sit out here to drink? (There didn't seem to be any tables.) I had a quick look in the back room, which has a fine ceiling (see photo).
I found it pleasant here, with a bit of conversation going, though not many were present; some customers in a later pub remarked that the Dun Cow is not the same since the former licensee left, but as I pointed out, such a difference is not going to be apparent to the casual one-off visitor, and I found it to be pleasant enough. And the beer was very good.
On 25th May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4674 recommendations about 4283 pubs]
View more reviews of Dun Cow (16)
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Dun Cow - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Chester-le-Street, 6.71 miles, 2 hr 9 min walk (show)
Bishop Auckland, 11.32 miles, 3 hr 38 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes - small courtyard - last updated 05 December 2017 by Graham Coombs
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 04 May 2014 by Alan Hurdle
- WiFi : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
