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Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Monday, 18th August 2025
With picture contributions to 12766 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (19 more images)
Detail Pages
The Head of Steam, Durham
Durham
DH1 4RZ
Served areas
Reviews of The Head of Steam (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about The Head of Steam
Up an alley off the main drag and past a few independent shops is café seating with background music from the Head of Steam that sits behind. Inside are seating areas to the left and right either side of the central bar area where a serving counter across the rear wall supports premium and mainstream craft keg alongside four hand pumps, three of which were in use drawing Rudgate’s Chocolate Stout, Head of Steam Gold and Old Peculiar. It was smaller in here than I was expecting, although I didn’t get to have a look upstairs due to it being closed for a charity quiz. The service was friendly and the young customers were generating a good atmosphere, but there are better pubs in the immediate area, so I doubt I’ll ever return.
On 22nd February 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6560 recommendations about 6522 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Head of Steam
Probably the best of this chain I have been to, partly because of its off-street location with outdoor seating in a partly covered yard, partly because it's only 1pm and fairly quiet. My half of the house beer from Camerons was ok but not brilliant, and not cheap either (NBSS 3,£5/pint). Better than "pleasant enough".
On 14th August 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4674 recommendations about 4283 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Head of Steam
I was somehow expecting this pub to be much busier on my Saturday evening visit. Whilst there were no tables on the ground floor, there were plenty spare upstairs.
The ale selection was good and they also offer 3 real ciders. Ales were Cameron's Road Crew, Bad Company Easy Now, Ridgeside Io & Rooster's Baby Faced Assassin & London Thunder. All ciders were from Lilley's - Rhubarb Cider, Apples & Pears & Somerset Scrumpy. I went for the London Thunder, a porter, which was slightly past its best.
I do however enjoy my visits to pubs in the Head of Steam chain. They always offer a good selection of beers, whether it be cask, keg, bottle or cans. This one was no exception.
On 4th August 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3415 recommendations about 3413 pubs]
View more reviews of The Head of Steam (15)
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- Official pages of the Head of Steam in Durham - www.theheadofsteam.co.uk
- Facebook - Head of Steam Durham
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Head of Steam - whatpub.com
Chester-le-Street, 6.32 miles, 2 hr 2 min walk (show)
Bishop Auckland, 11.39 miles, 3 hr 39 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 Festivals : No last updated 01 December 2017 by Aqualung .
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 18 September 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 14 August 2025 by Will Larter
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 01 December 2017 by Aqualung .
- Function Room : Yes last updated 18 September 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 01 December 2017 by Aqualung .
- Karaoke : No last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 01 December 2017 by Aqualung .
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 01 December 2017 by Aqualung .
- 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 : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 10 July 2015 by Quinno _
