The Black Horse, Beamish

The Black Horse, Beamish

AN ex-MP for County Durham, his name lives on in that popular ditty Bobby Shafto’s Gone to Sea, which has always been a favourite in the Eats household.Read

The Church Mouse, Chester Moor, Chester-le-Street

The Church Mouse, Chester Moor, Chester-le-Street

I’M taking you to the Temple Hamster for lunch today, I told Mrs Eats last Sunday, rather mischievously.Read

The Clubhouse, Rockliffe Hall

The Clubhouse, Rockliffe Hall, Hurworth

GOLF has made the national news of late, or rather its biggest star has, but it’s never really been a game for me. Read

The Bridge Inn

The Bridge Inn, Whorlton Village, Barnard Castle

WHEN the sun shines She Who Must Be Fed comes over all smiley and demands a day outdoors. Read

Blue Bell Inn, Kip Hill, Stanley, County Durham

Blue Bell Inn, Kip Hill, Stanley, County Durham

IT’S three years since I took She Who Must Be Fed to the delightful Blue Bell Inn, at Kip Hill, Stanley.Read

Whitworth Hall

Whitworth Hall, Page Bank, County Durham

A FRIEND of Mrs Eats recommended Whitworth Hall near Spennymoor, County Durham, as having first class Sunday scran. Read

Fallen Angel Hotel, Old Elvet, Durham

Fallen Angel Hotel, Old Elvet, Durham

THERE is something about Durham which draws Mrs E and I back time after time. This has surely got to be one of the smallest cities in the UK yet it has almost everything you could ask for.Read

The Stonebridge Inn

The Stonebridge Inn, Neville’s Cross

WITH spring finally upon us, Mrs Eats and I decided to make the most of the sunshine last Sunday by going for a leisurely stroll before lunch.Read

Broomside Park

Broomside Park, Belmont Industrial Estate

THEY say “never go back”. Yet when it comes to decent pubs where you can get tasty scran, you have to make an exception.Read

Tawny Owl

Tawny Owl, Middleton St George, County Durham

SHE WHO MUST BE FED was in an excitable mood all week because Stringbean, our gangly nephew, was due a visit. Read

Bishops' Mill, Walkergate, Durham

Bishops' Mill, Walkergate, Durham

ME and the missus had a bit of bother with our latest scran. We had planned to set off into the countryside to sample the food at a little pub we’d had recommended to us.Read

Thinford Inn

Thinford Inn, near Spennymoor, County Durham

“WHERE shall we scran today then?” Mrs E asked as we woke up on Sunday morning. She hadn’t even managed to get out of bed and have breakfast before her thoughts were turning to the day’s lunch arrangements. Read

Anchor Inn, Whittonstall

Anchor Inn, Whittonstall

IT’S probably only a matter of time before some of the region’s more isolated pubs fall foul of the credit crunch.Read

The Kings Head

The King's Head, Lanchester

THE missus and I have been varying our routine in recent months, sampling one or two establishments that are a bit of a departure from the traditional pubs we’re so fond of.Read

Whitworth Hall Hotel

Whitworth Hall Hotel, Spennymoor

I THINK it is safe to say this summer has been more of a wash out than last year.Read

Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street, County Durham

Lumley Castle, near Chester le Street, County Durham

Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street, County DurhamRead

Oldfields

Oldfields, Durham

WHEN I was writing up this week’s review I was sat at home watching the Champion’s League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea. Read

Dunelm Ridge

Dunelm Ridge, Pity Me

MRS EATS and I have become quite enamoured with Durham, what with the cathedral, the riverside walks and the historic city centre.Read

The Pumphouse, Durham

The Pumphouse, Durham

THE last time Mrs Eats and I found ourselves at the Pumphouse on the outskirts of Durham we described it as a scranning treasure.Read

Ancient Unicorn, Barnard Castle

Ancient Unicorn, Barnard Castle

WHILE gorging herself on Easter eggs for breakfast, Mrs Eats politely informed me — through a mouthful of chocolate — that a long-overdue trip to Barnard Castle, in County Durham, was in order.Read