Premier Inn Durham North

The electric heating in the room only seemed to work intermittently, which has been my experience at P.I. over the last couple of years. The attached pub has also been closed for over a year. When we arrived, staff suggested other places to eat nearby. Some offered discounts to P.I. customers, though two of them required a car. On the plus side, the staff were especially welcoming and helpful, and breakfast was cooked perfectly on all three mornings.

After the Great North Run, there was a table of recovery goodies waiting for runners. It was such a thoughtful gesture after 13.1 miles and made the stay feel personal and supportive. The team went the extra mile, and I really appreciated it. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the clean, comfortable room gave me the good night’s sleep I needed before and after the race. I was really impressed with my stay at the Premier Inn in Durham.

It’s been three years since our last visit, and it wasn’t as good this time. The pub onsite has closed, so if you want a drink, the nearest one is a 20-minute walk away. There’s a decent shopping centre nearby, but it gets very busy.

The restaurant was closed for refurbishment, which kept this from being a five-star stay. The comfortable rooms were just right for a couple of nights, and the location worked well for us going to Beamish. I wouldn’t recommend it if your main reason for visiting is Durham.