Quick info
About Dun Cow Durham
Dun Cow Durham is a pub with bedrooms and a restaurant at 37 Old Elvet in Durham. The kitchen serves classic British pub food. The front bar is a small snug room with a fireplace, and a larger lounge sits behind it. Cask beers are on, including Landlord and Castle Eden. Dogs are welcome, which suits walkers and regulars who bring their own. The toilets are outside the main building and are reached through a covered walkway tunnel.
Good to know
- ParkingPaid street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention castle eden cask ale, landlord cask beer, small snug bar and outdoor alley toilets.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention castle eden cask ale, landlord cask beer, small snug bar and outdoor alley toilets.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often praise the cask beer, with a pint of Landlord singled out as perfect and Castle Eden and White Witch also named. One adds a ham and cheese toasted sandwich and pork scratchings, and another was steered to a non alcoholic Pilsner by the bartender. Several describe a small, cozy snug of a bar with a larger back lounge, and long-time drinkers call it a throwback. Friendly locals and good chat come up repeatedly, and one newcomer was welcomed to tuck into a cheese board on the bar. The welcome is where opinion splits. One reviewer felt unwelcome, with no smile, please or thank you, and another found older regulars resistant to new customers and the place too expensive for what it is. A third found the Castle Eden beers past their best, the taproom door a slider that would not open, and a barmaid who did not want to talk. The outdoor toilets, reached through a covered walkway, are mentioned more than once, and one visitor simply called it old school.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often praise the cask beer, with a pint of Landlord singled out as perfect and Castle Eden and White Witch also named. One adds a ham and cheese toasted sandwich and pork scratchings, and another was steered to a non alcoholic Pilsner by the bartender. Several describe a small, cozy snug of a bar with a larger back lounge, and long-time drinkers call it a throwback. Friendly locals and good chat come up repeatedly, and one newcomer was welcomed to tuck into a cheese board on the bar. The welcome is where opinion splits. One reviewer felt unwelcome, with no smile, please or thank you, and another found older regulars resistant to new customers and the place too expensive for what it is. A third found the Castle Eden beers past their best, the taproom door a slider that would not open, and a barmaid who did not want to talk. The outdoor toilets, reached through a covered walkway, are mentioned more than once, and one visitor simply called it old school.
Featured reviews
- Phill Kelly
“Never been made so unwelcome. No smile, please or thank you. May as well have just told us to go somewhere else. We have always popped in here when in Durham and support it but never again. Other customers said exactly the same.”
- Mark
“Lovely old pub with a perfect pint of Landlord, nice ham and cheese toasted sandwich and pork scratchings.”
- Helen Davies
“Love, love, love this pub. I've been drinking there for decades. The bar is more like a snug. There's a fireplace but obvs it's summer. Quaint charm decor. The back room/lounge is larger but there was no-one in there as it was 2 pm. Outside toilets - old school - pun intended. But access is via a covered walk way/tunnel. Fab pub.”
- Pauline Brighton
“Went to play with Ukelele group cosy little historic pub”
- J J
“Alright but far too expensive for what it is. Usual older clientele clearly think they own the place and are resistant to new customers. I understand it’s trying to preserve its roots but it needs money ploughing into it and a bit of quiet music in the background to help improve the atmosphere and make it more welcoming.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Whitewashed country inn with smart bedrooms and a restaurant offering classic British pub food.”
- Great beer selection
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid street parking
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Alcohol
- Cozy
Show more amenities
- Beer
- Food
- Free water refills
- Restroom
- Groups
- Offerings· 2
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Highlights· 1
- Great beer selection
- Crowd· 1
- Tourists
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
Location
Bars near Dun Cow Durham
- Swan & Three Cygnets4.21,2630.2 mi£1–10Outdoor seating
samuel smith's beers, phone-free policy, no under 18s
- The Bishops' Mill4.13,9530.4 mi£10–20Wheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
halloumi fries, jaipur pint, outdoor terrace seating
- The Holy GrAle4.83660.5 mi
rotating keg taps, canned and bottled beers, open mic nights
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dun Cow DurhamWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.5600 | — | £10–20 | castle eden cask ale, landlord cask beer, small snug bar |
| Swan & Three CygnetsOutdoor seating | 4.21,263 | 0.2 mi | £1–10 | samuel smith's beers, phone-free policy, no under 18s |
| The Bishops' MillWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.13,953 | 0.4 mi | £10–20 | halloumi fries, jaipur pint, outdoor terrace seating |
| The Holy GrAle | 4.8366 | 0.5 mi | — | rotating keg taps, canned and bottled beers, open mic nights |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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