The Gray at 52 Old Elvet

We explored Durham over the next few days, visiting pubs and restaurants and taking a Riverside cruise. When checkout came at 10am, our train wasn’t due until 2.30pm, so we asked if we could leave our luggage at the property. Andy kindly said yes, which we really appreciated. We stayed in the Kirkham apartment at 52 Old Elvet, one of a few apartments in this grand looking 300 year old townhouse. A carpeted staircase leads up two floors. Once we entered with our security code, we found a modern, stylish sitting room, a kitchen around the corner and a stylish shower room with towels provided. Milk and orange juice in the fridge were a nice touch. Daniel and Andy were brilliant to communicate with, and nothing was too much trouble. It was so easy to arrange everything, and our hosts were informative and welcoming. We’d just got home from our first trip to Durham, and I honestly couldn’t recommend this place highly enough. If you’re visiting, give it a try.

We enjoyed visiting Durham, but the Fordham suite didn’t live up to its luxury accommodation branding. It was clean, at least, though the setup was pretty poor. The beds were singles pushed together, and the mattresses weren’t very comfortable. The kitchen had just four large plates and very little glassware, so the four of us couldn’t all have a pint at the same time. There’s a large chunk missing from the cracked hob, and one bedroom window has a big crack too. Furnishings and decor were minimal, really no decor at all, just one mirror hung at waist height in the hall.

The shower was brilliant, very powerful, and the whole bathroom was lovely. The location is great too, an easy walk into Durham with pubs and restaurants nearby, and the rooms are a good size. But The Fordham needs a lot of work before I’d call it luxury. The place felt bare, with blank walls and no pictures. Bedroom one has good storage, but the second only has a wardrobe with two coat hangers and bedside tables, nowhere to sit and do makeup. There’s a full length mirror in the hall, but it’s hung sideways at chest height and can’t be used. The standard lamp in the living room was broken, its shade barely attached. There was an ironing board, but both irons had something sticky melted onto the plate, so we didn’t want to use them. The kitchenware wasn’t in good shape. There was only one ridged frying pan, and the pots had something burnt onto them and weren’t clean. There should be four of each type of glassware, like tumblers and wine glasses. I was glad I brought my own pillow, since the pillows had no protectors or undercases, and the mattress had no protector either, just a sheet straight on it. Yuck. I came home from our break more tired than when we left, despite not having late nights. The mattresses are uncomfortable, even if pushing two singles together gives guests options. Please add a decent topper over them, and blackout blinds or curtains, as the room gets flooded with light. There was no cleaning cloth in the flat either. It’d be useful to have some spray and a cloth for the glass dining table and counters, since kitchen roll and water aren’t enough. Hooks on the bedroom doors would help with drying four bath towels, and foldable suitcase stands would keep bags off the clean bed. These things seem simple to fix. The place could be luxury, but isn’t close to that at the moment. I hope the owner stays somewhere luxury, or even just acceptable, and takes note of the standards. With a great location and spacious rooms, I hope things improve for future guests.

Bright, spacious rooms, soaring ceilings and an amazing kitchen, all kept clean. 52 Old Elvet is wonderfully central and, with its cathedral views and five star interiors, surely one of Durham’s most beautiful buildings. It’s a brilliant place to live and work in the North East, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone staying in Durham.