The Old Well Inn

We stopped at the Old Well for dinner and a drink during a camping weekend at Barnard Castle. The fish and chips and scampi and chips were freshly cooked and nicely presented, and the prices were fair. Staff were lovely and friendly. It got especially busy on Saturday while a singer was on, so booking ahead might be sensible.

The food was good, served well, and fairly priced, and there was a nice atmosphere and good parking. We’d booked a midweek meal for two, but the barman really took the shine off it: gruff, miserable, and stuck to his phone. A friend we met there mentioned his attitude too. There are plenty of places to choose from in Barny, so I hope the owners have a word and get things back on track.

We couldn’t wait to leave, and definitely wouldn’t stay again. The bathroom was disgusting, with a loose toilet, a seat hanging off, a rusty electric towel radiator, a broken shower holder and a shower head only up to chest height. The boarding around the pipes was broken and coming away, and the toilet brush looked like you’d need a chemical suit to touch it. Our bedroom was in a terrible state too. The number was hanging off the door, cobwebs were all over, the carpet looked grubby, and the decor was dated. The mattress had lost its spring years ago, the pillows had no filling, and there was a persistent damp smell. Even the entrance hall was shabby and old fashioned. Breakfast was mediocre. We were told not to be late for our 8:30 slot, yet it arrived at 9:00. There was plenty in the full English, but it wasn’t good. I doubt the owners have checked the rooms for a while, or these problems would have been sorted.

I popped in one afternoon and was surprised it was so quiet, with only a handful of people, especially as some ales were just £2.70 a pint. It looks like an old English pub and has a good range of drinks, from beers at the bar to spirits behind it. They serve meals too, and have live music now and then.