please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Water House is part of the Wetherspoons chain which has a rambling interior spread over a few different levels. It had a predominantly young crowd on Saturday evening. But I suspect (as with most 'spoons) that it is different during the day. The ale selection was good - Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best, Sharps Doom Bar, Sonnet 43 Impressment & The Raven, Daleside Pride of England & Yard Of Ale One Yard Beyond. Ciders were Old Rosie & Black Dragon. As my last pub of 13, I finished on a pint of the latter and it sent me back to my B & B in decent spirits.
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I'm very fond on the GBG listed Durham pubs but so far have avoided this one. Wasn't impressed by the beer selection but had the Prince Bishop from Big Lamp which was well kept. Only got a half and was glad as just as I sat down a chav family (including child) kicked off and had to be ejected by the manager (don't envy his job on North Street). Doubt if I'll be back.
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High House Farm Nel's Best (good quality), Maxim xxx and standard Spoons beers. Smartly furnished, one of the better Spoons I've visited although not the greatest choice.
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Yes, Wetherspoons are pretty much formulaic but that's what some people like. I prefer a decent old-fashioned boozer myself, but sometimes a W'spoons is handy. Also, CAMRA members have �20 worth of vouchers to use annually! When I called in last week I had a perfectly acceptable pint of Allendale Tar Barrel (don't recall the correct "local dialect" spelling) and found the place fine. Maybe I was lucky, but this company will continue to receive my patronage from time to time.
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If you've been to one spoons, you've been to them all:
Good selection of drinks? Check.
Real ale pumps? Check.
Poorly kept? Check.
Cheap as chips? Check.
Located on North Road opposite the bus station. For those not too familiar with Durham, North Road is the backside of the town. So, place a cheap pub opposite the charver/scumbag magnet that is the bus station, and you get an, ahem, 'varied' crowd inside. However, a live and let live attitude generally prevales so don't worry too much about venturing in for a swift one before the bus turns up. But DO NOT be tempted by the ales on offer, as you will be disappointed, grab a bottled drink instead.
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Never had a problem with this place - can't say it makes my shortlist too often but you'd not hear a peep out of me if someone suggested it. Fair enough, it is like the cantina bar from Star Wars but so are all Spoons pubs so this is no different!
I've always found the staff to be pretty good - most of them longserving "faces".
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Beer was cheap but not very good - service the last couple of times I have been in has been poor. I was the only person at the bar and it still took five minutes to get served
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Below average JDW. That said it makes good use of a fine historic building and provides a useful, if unspectacular, town centre (not the nice historic bit but the chewing-gum-and-kebab-wrapper bit) venue for a morning coffee. On returning early evening I found the place devoid of atmosphere, a bit like an airport lounge (and I've spent a lot of time in those recently). I had a pint of Courage Best (someone bought it for me so I didn't quibble - my colleague, a lager drinker, didn't quite grasp the idea of festival beers) which was just about OK. As ROBCamra says below, it was OK for one but I don't think I'll rush back as there are much better pubs nearby.
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Popped in last friday about 10 in the morning and it was canny busy. Must of been giro day. Bog standard spoons bar which is handy as not far from train station but thats all its got going for it.
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Smallish Wetherspoons with an unusual seating arrangement at the back of the pub. Usually has 3/4 guest ales on alongside the usual crew, pretty well kept in my experience. Service is pretty good but being close to the bus station/railway station it gets it's fair share of pondlife. It's OK for one.
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Unremarkable Weatherspoons outlet, not the best beer selection I have seen, but OK and handy for the bus station.
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Quick service and a good selection of well kept ales, 7/10
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Called in while doing a crawl of Durham and enjoyed a couple of Northumberland beers. Typical Wetherspoons.
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Standard Wethersppons formula, although I found the decor made it feel a bit oppressive and claustrophobic. Also, whilst nothing was undrinkable, the quality of the three ales I sampled was a bit erratic.
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Tiny Spoons, but friendly and with decent local beer.
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Durham�s first Wetherspoon�s outlet. Whilst, the d�cor and carpeting has become a bit shabby over the last 18 months, the quality of beer and food is still of a relatively high standard, and there is clear support of local microbreweries which sit side by side with the usual Wetherspoon�s house ales. A new Lloyd�s No 1 bar has opened in the Walkergate development in December 2006 � the Bishop�s Mill.
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This place looks well classy and food was cheap and massive, cheap drinks too!
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Most of the time this Wetherspoons is fairly pleasant. However, towards the weekend(understandably) and later on in the night the divide between town and gown seems very very present. This probably isn't helped by it's location on North Road, which is Durham's epicentre for rowdiness and fights.
But the real ales are cheap, and you know what you are getting food wise.
Although there is a good split level dining area. But do not let my review put you off too much, there has only been one time(out of many visits) when I (as a young female student) felt unsafe.
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Typical Wetherspoons: cheap, cheerful, friendly enough and reasonable food. On the downside, there are some absolutely appalling regulars (see them congregate at the tables midway down the bar) and the bar itself can get very busy. Soon to be open 9am - 2am too... God help us.
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Exactly what you would expect from a Wetherspoons, ie good cheap beer, and good cheap food. The range of guest ales isn't always great and consistency is a bit of an issue, but I suppose that's why they're guest ales.
Due to its location close to the only good clubs in Durham, this is a great place to begin a Durham night out. Well worth a look in.
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Good cheap drinks, food not bad usually, staff ok & friendly, bad side loads of low life get too rowdy and no one deals with it.
Also no smoking areas are a joke and staff turn a blind eye,this really hacks non smokers off please sort this out. smokers have more than enough space to stink the place out ..!!
M Jones - 29 Mar 2005 20:53 |
