The Garden House Inn

The pizzas were tasty and the staff were friendly and attentive, though they felt a bit expensive. We were the only couple in the restaurant, despite expecting it to be busy, and the chairs could use padding. The menu was pizza only, which we hadn't realised before booking; knowing that, we might have gone somewhere else. Would I return? Maybe, if there were more choices on the menu and some quiet background music to make it feel cosier.

Parking was very crowded and awkward to get into. Next time I think we'd pay to park on the street instead of squeezing into the little car park. We went for a Christmas meal, and our group was split between two cramped tables while another party got a long table, which was frustrating. The soup was awful, with no clear flavour, and everyone at our table left theirs. The waiter didn't ask about it. The rest of the food was okay, though it seemed a bit pretentious and there wasn't much to it. Service was decent and the waiter was friendly, but serving us in such a tight space can't have been easy. It might be a pleasant place for an occasional visit if you avoid busy periods and special events.

The staff were polite and friendly, and the drinks were reasonably priced. A first-class meal with good-sized portions.

That sticky toffee dessert was easily the best I've ever had. We came for Sunday lunch and the roast beef was so tender it fell apart on the plate, with plenty of tasty vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and lovely gravy. A great-value pub in Durham, full of quirky old furniture and decor. Highly recommended.