Twelve More Durham Pubs Worth Your Time

The craft trail is for people who care what’s in the pint. This one isn’t — or not only.

These are the rest of the Durham places we’d send you to: for the room, the music, the food, the view or the history, even where the beer isn’t the reason to go. A couple I’d check before committing, and I’ll say which and why. Where I’m being critical, that’s my palate and usually one visit, not a verdict on the business — I’ve dated everything so you can weigh it yourself.

They’re in roughly walking order: out at Gilesgate first, then in through Elvet and the Market Place, finishing across the river in Crossgate.

1. The Hop Knocker — worth the trip out

The only one on this list that isn’t a walk from the Market Place, and the reason it isn’t on the craft trail. The Hop Knocker is a bottle shop and micropub on Marshall Terrace in Gilesgate, out by the retail parks.

That location cuts both ways. The good side: after an afternoon’s shopping, or instead of one — your other half in the shops, you with a fresh pint — there’s somewhere proper to sit. The bad side: it’s a long way from the centre and not many people know it’s there.

The place is welcoming and friendly, and it isn’t about design at all. It’s about a good pint of craft beer or a good cider. There’s a strong selection on tap and a very well-stocked fridge with a lot of range crammed into a small space. A hidden gem outside the city centre, and well worth the trip.

Prices, off the board. Eleven taps and a cask line. The cask was £5.50 a pint, most of the taps sat between £5 and £8.50, and the big stouts ran well past that — a 19% Wander Beyond imperial stout was £15 a pint, and a 13.5% mint choc stout was sold in two-thirds and halves only. Everything is available in halves, which is how you would want to drink the top half of that board anyway.

There’s a nice little courtyard outside, with a ruined wall running round it that does a lot for the atmosphere, and live acoustic music some nights — check the Facebook page before you go.

One thing to plan around: it keeps micropub hours — Wednesday to Sunday, mostly afternoons and evenings, closed Monday and Tuesday. Worth checking before you make the trip out.

The shop side sells interesting wine, too. I’ve bought Olesia a bottle here twice at Christmas — a port-style wine, very sweet, around 20%, and a lovely flavour on a cold dark evening.

2. Whitechurch — the best start to a day in Durham

On Church Street Head, in what used to be the New Inn. Whitechurch is a whitewashed freehouse that opened in 2018, and it’s now part of the Zen Group, alongside the burger place Tango on Saddler Street, and The Rabbit Hole on Hallgarth Street.

Go for the coffee and the food. The sandwiches are homemade and genuinely excellent. Last time we were in, in the middle of August 2026, Olesia had a matcha, I had a coffee — I was driving — and our friend had the first pint of the day. We’ve never had a bad plate. The burger’s good too. There’s a wider menu beyond that, and the room is nicely done, but the thing that makes it is the big wooden veranda, which works as a beer garden when it’s warm, and still works on a wet day because it’s covered.

They do Sunday lunch, and they’ve built a name for it. We’ve not eaten it — but on the strength of everything else we’ve had there, I’d book it. Dogs welcome.

On the beer, be realistic. There were three taps on when we were in, and the only one I’d drink was the Camden Pale, £6.80 a pint. The printed menu lists four — Stella, Camden Hells, Camden Pale and Guinness — so what is on the card and what is actually pouring do not always match. Ask rather than assume. That’s why this isn’t on the craft trail. It’s where you start the day before the craft trail — coffee, a sandwich, and then a big exploring day with a nice fresh pint somewhere else.

One thing the taps don’t tell you: the menu also lists Durham Brewery Magus and Dark Angel in bottles at £6.20. We saw that on one visit, and going by the draught list it may or may not be in the fridge when you get there — but it is worth asking, because it is the only local beer in the building.

3. The Court — newly reopened, worth watching

On Court Lane by the prison. The former Court Inn sat closed for six years; it reopened as The Court on 28 August 2026 after a £1 million refurbishment, on the ground floor of the Sanctuary Knocker aparthotel — itself a separate £2.3 million conversion of the upper floors. It comes from the group behind The Drunken Duck, Ye Old Elm Tree and Black Rabbit.

I went in on 6 September 2026, its second week. The interior is high-spec — dark wood, leather banquettes, parquet, closer to a London gentlemen’s club than a Durham pub — and it leans hard into a Durham theme, which I liked.

The beer is mostly commercial keg for now, with two cask handpulls: Timothy Taylor’s Landlord at 4.3% and their Blonde at 3.8%. Both well kept, though it’s hard not to be a week in. Neck Oil and Gamma Ray also on.

Prices, from the menu, September 2026. Both cask ales are £6.50 a pint. Draught runs £5.50 to £6.50 — Amstel £5.50, Cruzcampo and Murphy’s £6.00, Moretti and Guinness £6.50 — with Neck Oil at £6.25 and Gamma Ray at £6.50.

For context: a cask pint here is two pounds more than at the Station House, which is a twenty-minute walk away. That’s the trade for the parquet.

I asked the manager whether they’d looked at local Durham breweries, given how proud the decor is of the place. He said they’d considered it but not pursued it yet, and that he’s planning to rotate the range and see what lands. So this could get more interesting. Or not.

Food starts on 11 September — today, as this goes up. Sunday lunch is around £30 and aimed at the upper end; their first Sunday sold out. We’re going back shortly to try both, and I’ll update this.

4. The Dun Cow — I’d check before committing

A historic 18th-century pub on Old Elvet, a couple of minutes from The Court. Grade II listed, and parts of it date back to the 15th century. An old Tudor Revival bar back in four sections with mirrored panels, a panelled bar counter, and a carved wood surround to the fireplace.

The place itself is quirky and interesting — a small front snug with a few tables and a larger lounge to the rear, and it pulls a local crowd.

From the early 19th century to the mid-1960s the Dun Cow had strong connections to judicial execution by hanging, which is why it’s a stop on the Durham Ghost Walk.

One visit, spring 2026: I ordered a half and was glad I hadn’t ordered more. It was sour and tasted like it hadn’t been kept properly. That’s one half-pint on one day and I haven’t been back since, so take it as a caution rather than a verdict — line quality varies and things get fixed. It used to be very good, which is why the visit disappointed me. The pub still reviews well, so ask what’s freshest before you commit to a pint.

5. The Half Moon Inn — past form, and a good position

On New Elvet, a minute from Elvet Bridge. The Half Moon used to carry a lot of craft beer, and in my opinion it’s slid over the last five to ten years. That’s why it’s in this post rather than on the trail.

There are still a handful of hand-pulled, more craft-leaning beers on, so it isn’t a write-off and it’s worth a look if you’re passing. It’s just not what it was, and I wouldn’t build an afternoon around it. Decent riverside spot between the bridge and the Victoria. There’s sport on the TV, and it can be busy right through the evening.

6. Swan & Three Cygnets — go for the position

Ten or twenty metres from the Half Moon, over Elvet Bridge and right on the river. The Swan & Three Cygnets is a Samuel Smith’s pub, which tells you most of what you need to know.

Sam Smith’s beer isn’t for me. Plenty of people love it and they’re not wrong — it’s a preference, not a quality judgement. What’s not in question is the pub: proper old-world, very traditional, big inside, outdoor seating and one of the best riverside positions in Durham. It gets busy for good reason.

One thing to know: Sam Smith’s pubs don’t allow mobile phones. That’s the house rule and they mean it.

7. The Library — go for the balcony

Up Saddler Street from the Market Place towards the Cathedral. The Library is a local chain pub and unmistakably a student one, but don’t let that put you off.

Usually four craft beers on and the quality is genuinely fine — not terrible at all. Well-stocked bar, and cocktails on tap, which I’ve not seen much elsewhere. Prices are higher than you’d expect in a student bar, though: £5.20–£5.90 for a craft beer.

The reason for going is the balcony. It looks out over the river and the woods below the Cathedral, and on a sunny afternoon there are few better places in the city to sit with a pint. Televisions throughout showing sport, if that’s your thing — and in the evening it gets very lively and very loud.

8. Market Tavern — go for the history

27 Market Place, and a wonderful building — Grade II listed, and the birthplace of the Durham Miners’ Association, which makes the Market Tavern one of the most historically significant pubs in the county. Nice inside, too.

It’s a Greene King pub, and I don’t get on with Greene King beer. They’ve made a push into craft in a commercial way and I don’t rate the result. That’s my taste, stated plainly — I avoid Greene King pubs generally, so treat my opinion accordingly. If the history interests you, and it should, go and see it and make your own mind up about the pint.

Food is available and gets mixed reviews. The pub sits in a prime spot on the Market Place, and you’ll walk past it a dozen times over a weekend in Durham.

9. The Drunken Duck — go for the room, not the beer

On Claypath, a short walk up from the Market Place. The Drunken Duck has a smart interior opening onto a decked area at the back, and a pool table.

The beer is the disappointment: all commercial. The only thing I could drink was Brixton Pale Ale, which wasn’t bad, just not what I go to a pub for. Ten-odd years ago this place had a genuinely good craft range, served Durham Brewery Magus regularly, and was packed every weekend. Now it’s mostly empty except for the Friday live music nights, which pull the tech and party-DJ crowd.

The room is the thing: neon lighting worked in with the furniture and the decor, a lot of space, a veranda outside, and a few screens with sport on.

10. The Curious Mr Fox — go for the cocktails

Down on The Riverwalk, below the bridge and right by the water. The Curious Mr Fox is not a craft beer venue and doesn’t pretend to be. Neck Oil is about the only thing on I’d order.

Go anyway. The handcrafted cocktails are excellent — around £9 to £12 — and the spirits list behind them is a proper one. The food is good too. There are around five rooms over three floors, each decorated to its own theme, in a historic building with views towards the Cathedral and Castle. They do afternoon teas. It’s very well put together and it pulls a properly mixed-age crowd on Friday and Saturday nights.

One caveat, and it’s the afternoon tea. The reviews split hard, and they split on the tea rather than the food. Several people have come away annoyed that a single cup arrived rather than a pot, with refills charged for, and there are repeated complaints that the cream is sparse or oversweet. Others rate the same sitting as excellent and praise the scones and the service. Across 202 TripAdvisor reviews the venue runs 112 excellent against 57 poor or terrible — a wider spread than anywhere else in this post. The cocktails are the reliable thing here. If it’s the afternoon tea you want, read a few recent reviews first and ask about the tea when you book.

They also do Sunday lunch — roasts with crispy roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and rich gravy. We haven’t had it. We have eaten there for other things, though, and everything came out tasty, so I’d expect it to be good.

If you want an evening out in Durham that isn’t about beer, this is the one.

11. Head of Steam — the reliable middle

Head of Steam is in Reform Place just off North Road — about fifty metres from the bus station, on the opposite side of the road.

Eight to ten craft beers on tap at a guess, as you’d expect from the chain, alongside international lagers and the mainstream stuff — Madrí, San Miguel. The quality is reasonable and consistent, and the prices are fair. I wouldn’t call it amazing and it doesn’t have the character of the trail pubs, but I’ve never had a bad pint here, which is worth something.

Food is commercial pub food, done well.

12. The Angel Inn — go for the bands

Next door to The Holy GrAle on Crossgate. The Angel is a bikers’, metal and rock bar and it makes no apology for it. Leathers, patches, and a crowd that knows the words.

Live bands on Saturday nights, plus open mic and a music quiz on Wednesdays. The quality of the acts is consistently higher than it has any right to be — I’ve been impressed more than once. Check their socials for what’s on.

The beer is commercial craft — Camden Pale, Camden Hells, sometimes Neck Oil. Perfectly drinkable. But you’re not going for the beer, you’re going for the noise, and on that it delivers. There’s a big beer garden too.

Our picks, our scores

These are our own choices, not a complete list of Durham’s pubs — there are plenty we’ve left out. Everywhere here we’ve been to and paid for ourselves, with no arrangement with any venue and no free drinks for coverage.

It’s one household’s opinion, not an official ranking. Beer moves too: cellars change hands, ranges rotate, good pubs have off days. If you find something’s changed, tell us and we’ll go and check.

Addresses

Opening hours as each venue listed them in September 2026. Pubs change them and small independents change them most, so check before you make a special trip — particularly The Hop Knocker and The Curious Mr Fox, which both close for part of the week.

The Hop Knocker — 32 Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate, Durham, DH1 2HX. facebook.com/TheHopKnocker.
Wed 4–8pm · Thu 2–8pm · Fri 2–9pm · Sat noon–9pm · Sun noon–4pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Whitechurch — 29 Church Street Head, Durham, DH1 3DN. whitechurchdurham.com.
Every day 8.30am–6pm; bar from 10am. Breakfast 9–11.45am; lunch noon–3pm weekdays and noon–5pm Saturday; Sunday lunch noon–5pm.

The Court — Court Lane, Durham, DH1 3AW. Reopened 28 August 2026. thecourtdurham.co.uk.
Bar Mon–Thu and Sun noon–11pm, Fri–Sat noon–midnight. Kitchen Wed–Sat noon–8pm, Sun noon–4.30pm; no food Monday or Tuesday.

The Dun Cow — 37 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN. Facebook.
Mon–Sat 11am–11pm · Sun noon–11pm.

The Half Moon Inn — 86 New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3AQ. thehalfmooninndurham.co.uk.
Mon–Thu 11am–11pm · Fri–Sat 11am–midnight · Sun noon–11pm.

Swan & Three Cygnets — Elvet Bridge, Durham, DH1 3AF. useyourlocal.com.
Mon–Sat 11am–11pm · Sun 11am–10.30pm.

The Library — 46 Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NU. socialpubandkitchen.co.uk.
Mon–Thu 10am–midnight · Fri–Sat 10am–1am · Sun 10am–11.30pm. Food until 10pm.

Market Tavern — 27 Market Place, Durham, DH1 3NJ. greeneking.co.uk.
Sun–Thu 11am–11pm · Fri–Sat 11am–midnight.

The Drunken Duck — 91–91a Claypath, Durham, DH1 1RG. Facebook.
Mon–Thu 2pm–midnight · Fri noon–midnight · Sat noon–1am · Sun noon–midnight.

The Curious Mr Fox — Unit 35a, The Riverwalk, Durham, DH1 4SL. thecuriousmrfox.co.uk.
Wed–Thu noon–10pm · Fri noon–11pm · Sat 10am–11pm · Sun 10am–8pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Breakfast Sat–Sun 10am–noon; Sunday roast noon–4pm.

Head of Steam — 3 Reform Place, off North Road, Durham, DH1 4RZ. theheadofsteam.co.uk.
Sun–Thu noon–10pm · Fri–Sat noon–midnight. Food until 9pm.

The Angel Inn — 53 Crossgate, Durham, DH1 4PR. @TheAngelDurham.
Sun–Thu noon–11pm · Fri–Sat noon–midnight. Live bands Saturdays; open mic and music quiz Wednesdays.