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Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with aleandhearty
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Detail Pages
The Half Moon Inn, Durham
Durham
DH1 3AQ
Pub Type
Oak Tree (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Half Moon
Update – September 2013
The pub is as described below on my original visit in September 2008.
5 beers were on – Greene King IPA, York Brewery’s Yorkshire Terrier, Bass, Durham White Gold ( these 4 appear to be regular beers ) plus Adnams Lighthouse as a guest.
The Durham beer ( £2.95p ) was an enjoyable pint. This visit was noteworthy for my first sighting of a pub sporting a CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2014 sticker.
This is a pleasant, if rather unremarkable, pub. It’s worth calling in, if only to sample a beer from the local Durham Brewery, whose beers do not appear to be easily found in Durham pubs, for some inexplicable reason.
Original review – September 2008
Well known traditional Durham pub at the end of Elvet Bridge with an outside drinking area at the back looking out on to the river.
My initial impression of this pub on a Sunday afternoon visit was not good - the bar at the front was busy and dominated by the loudish football screens, but I quickly found a much quieter part at the back down a few steps.
A subsequent visit the next day gave a more favourable impression. The traditional atmosphere is enhanced by a number of old black and white photos of Miners Marches ( 1958, 1983) taken from the pub and several Bass mirrors and a curved mahogany bar in the lower bar.
Its a Mitchell and Butlers pub and 3-4 real ales were on - Bass, Timmy Taylor, London Pride and Bees Knees from the local Durham Brewery.
The pub is Cask Marque accredited and clearly takes real ale seriously.
This is one of the pubs that people tell you to visit if you're in Durham and I'm not about to tell you differently
On 2nd December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Half Moon
Traditional 'U'-shaped main bar with quite restricted space for seating. Attractive lower lounge with a curved counter. Worth looking about, both inside and out, as there is some fine decorative tiling beside front doors / windows and around the fireplaces. Newspapers available to read. Rear patio area. Six beers available on handpump, including EPA, Yorkshire Terrier and a fine piunt of Durham White Gold (£2.90). Well worth seeking out.
On 3rd February 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Half Moon
Called in on our way to Durham beer festival and found a well stocked bar of real ales. Chose Durham White Gold and Broughton Merlins Ale, but felt they may have needed a bit more pulled off as we were the first customers in there. Bar area when you go in was being spruced up and we went in the lounge at the back. This was very clean and tidy, and there is a separate bar there which must operate when they are busy. Outside seating area at the back. Staff friendly.
On 30th August 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Half Moon
Called in yet again, as we always do when we're in Durham. Nothing has changed except that there wasn't a Durham beer on the bar. It's still a very pleasant pub for a peaceful pint.
19/10/2009
Decent enough pub with several well kept beers always including one from Durham brewery. Two very distinct areas in one room. A good place to watch the football as there are two large TV screens in the top part of the bar. Only problem is that when a big match is on it's hard to get to the bar for all the people watching TV. A good pub for a quiet pint if you sit in the bottom part of the bar.
On 21st June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Half Moon
Good traditional pub well worth a visit. Good beer and good service, called here especially to try the Durham Brewery beer - wasn't disappointed, the Durham Apollo was spot on, with a good hoppy taste to it. Also tried the Marstons EPA and Bass. Will return.
On 20th March 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Half Moon
An atmospheric historic town pub just outside the old City centre, The Half Moon is one of Durham's best. The interior is listed and split into two - a ground floor lounge and bar, and an upstairs bar used mainly by locals. The bars are crescent shaped, hence the name. Four ales on, I tried the Durham and found it most enjoyable; I would have loved to stay for more but time didn't allow. I will, however, most certainly be back. Recommended for a good evening's drinking and is a must for a City crawl.
On 20th October 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3287 recommendations about 3252 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Half Moon
One of my favourite pubs anywhere, located at the end of Elvet bridge just into student territory although it has a generally mixed and interesting clientele. Famous for the quality of its draught Bass in previous times it still sells Bass plus three other well kept cask beers, including one from Durham Brewery and a range of kegs. A traditionally decorated, split level arrangement, the rear lounge on a lower level can be quieter and has a bit more space than the somewhat cramped front bar.
On 23rd November 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3273 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Half Moon
Traditional pub on the main road with a large central bar and a lower area with soft seating. There also seems to be a terrace overlooking the river although we didn't try that.
Four beers on tap (Timothy Taylor Landlord, Bass, London Pride and the local Bee's Knees) plus Strongbow, Woodpecker & Magners cider, plus another dozen bottled ciders.
On 30th June 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1950 recommendations about 1863 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Carr left this review about The Half Moon
4 Real ales on tap. I had an excellent pint of Cats Whisker. 27/10/08
On 27th October 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 39 recommendations about 39 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Guy Hannay-Wilson left this review about The Half Moon
Comfortable and busy pub. Selection of 4 real ales.
On 1st September 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 23 recommendations about 23 pubs]