The Old Mill Inn, Durham

Family-friendly pub/restaurant in a village called Metal Bridge. The only sign of a bridge was one just down the road from the pub which carried the East Coast Mainline over it. Inside is quite spacious, with at least 3 different drinking areas, 2 either side of the bar and a separate room off a corridor where the toilets can be found. The one section has a set of stairs leading up to an additional level of seating. Sitting in one area, I was reminded why kids are often not allowed in pubs. One unruly brat was shouting and running around without any kind of admonishment from the group he was with. In fact, they paid him absolutely no attention at all and I couldn't even work out which were the parents. Other customers, mostly of the older persuasion, seemed to be slightly perturbed by the disturbance, but were trying to block it out. It made my visit a bit more rushed than I'd hoped and in hindsight, I should have sought a more relaxed visit in another seating area. 3 real ales were on - Consett Ale Works Red Dust & Consett Pale Ale & Maxim Double Maxim. Bar staff were all young girls and the focus appears to be very much on food here.

A large dining pub but with 8 handpulls although four were doubled up on this occasion with Double Maxim, Taylors Landlord, Help for Heroes and DLI from Yard of Ale in nearby Ferryhill, plus a selection of national kegs. What Pub says there are no regular beers. It's a big rambling sort of place with several rooms, two are more formal dining rooms and there are two bar type rooms split by the counter, the rear one being a bit dark. The walls are finished in a sort of rag rolled buff which was very popular a few years ago but suits this old building very well. Upstairs appears to be used as an overflow drinking space. According to CAMRA it was built as a paper mill in 1813. It's GBG listed, and the food, beer, and service were excellent when I popped in.