We had been here for an event years ago and recently attended a fundraiser for a local charity. There is not a lot of parking nearby but you can find space if you drive around. There seems to be two interior dining ares (one with an upstairs balcony) plus a patio and then an open grassy area. It looks like they host many wedding receptions and other special events. I won't comment on the food or service since ours was cooked by a guest chef and served by volunteers, but I can say from what I saw, the owners/staff would do a great job with any event. read more

I had been dying to check out the Cookery and finally an opportunity fell into my lap in the form of a charity dinner sponsored by Pizzeria Toro! The cookery looks great from the outside: color mural on its side-wall, fancy metal, grillwork up front along with a cool sign are the only hints of what lies inside. For this charity dinner they had a bunch of long tables set up family-style for a communal dinner. In back the bar was busy and buzzing with action. And the overall space is not huge but comfortable and lit really well. Accent lights on the rough brick walls created a lot of visual texture for the eye. The space is open but still very personal. A landing area at top was unused and a storage area up front near the ceiling housed what looks like brewing equipment for Ponysaurus (?) Overall the Cookery seems like a great space for a corporate or personal event if you don't have a huge headcount. While there isn't much else right around here, the Cookery is worth the drive out if you've got an excuse for a visit... read more

See all

TLDR: I've been to two weddings here now and all bomb. Gorgeous little spot for weddings. I've had a ton of fun celebrating people here and have had outstanding food and drink in this beautiful venue. If you're looking at this spot I think it's quite wonderful. Congrats! read more

1st time at The Cookery. Attended a wedding last weekend and was really impressed with the layout, service and food & drinks. The space is a hollowed out old brick building which is nice because whatever bash gets booked in there means there's plenty of freedom to create any desired look without having to cover up what's already there. It's a nice blank canvas to work with. I especially liked the smooth cement floors. A modern touch in a vintage space. So, the main entrance is a large room with a dance floor on one end, a long bar on the side, and lots of space for seating (ceremony area) at the other end. Next to that is a courtyard with strung up accent lights and some tables & chairs. On the other side is another courtyard with same accent lighting and an old, large, metal door slid open along the brick siding which made for a nice photo backdrop. This leads into another space which has a smaller bar. The space has a really tall ceiling, and there's a staircase along one wall leading up to what I think was additional space for guests to hang out. I'm actually not certain about that as I didn't make it over to check out. All in all, I really liked the variety offered here. It's nice to be indoors and go outdoors in a snap, without having to feel like you're leaving the party. Much needs to be said about the service here. From the moment of arrival to the time of departure, every employee I encountered was extremely helpful, friendly, and professional. One of the bartenders even made a cocktail for me that was not on the party menu. He noted it would take a few minutes as ingredients were at the other bar. Well I can't tell you how thrilled I was that I got the cocktail I wanted. Not only that, but the bartender found me milling around in a different room and brought the glass to me. It tasted amazing! Even though the other drinks I had were amazing too, and they really were, this one is probably my fave because extra effort went into making it and getting it to me. The food was catered by Donovan's Dish, out of Apex. I had never heard of them before, but now I'm sure I'll never forget them. They served apps at cocktail hour which were delicious, and then at dinner they were serving 3 types of entrees at stations. I wouldn't be able to call myself a foodie if I didn't taste all 3, so of course I did just that. The meat, the chicken and shrimp were incredible. I'm not sure what biz provided the wedding cake but it was gorgeous and tasted excellent. Tip: If you arrive a little too early for an event here, (like I did), just note that there's a coffee shop diagonally across the street where you can hang out until it's time to walk over to The Cookery. Joe Van Gogh Coffee, is the place. read more

The Cookery - Nice mural. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The Cookery is so much more then a event space for rent. On the weekend nights when they don't have a wedding on the books, they open their doors to the public for classic events including but not limited to their "Belly Up" experiences (popular currently with March Madness) where they'll bring in a food truck and dessert truck and open up their bar for the pubic. They always have the game projected on the wall for all fans alike and you can come and go whenever you desire. While they do have a handful of open events, they also have some paid dinners where the money goes to charity and different restaurants or food trucks around the Triangle will host. While The Cookery was initially the coolest and hottest place to go in Durham, it's lost a little of its hype, a good thing in my opinion. I remember the first event I attended was a cheese tasting and not only did you have to wait in line because they were at max capacity, but it was stifling inside and you were always bumping into someone. Since then, most locals have experienced The Cookery and people aren't putting every event on their calendars. And although the neighborhood is a little more up-and-coming then other parts of Durham, they do offer valet parking at their paid events and street parking is available as well (although no private lot). However, once you enter The Cookery you are quickly transported into a different neighborhood. With it's hanging lights along the ceiling, open bar in the back stocked with the best goods, wooden "dance" floor and balcony seating with bar seating all along the edges of the room and beautiful metal work throughout. Plus, they've got a great patio in the back, closed off to any sort of view, but a good option if you need some fresh air and don't want to wonder into the street. So whether you're looking to plan your next event or just check out their bar with some friends, The Cookery is sure to be a good time. Their facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cookery) is definitely the best way to keep up to date with their event. Craft beer on tap, several varieties of wine and cocktails won't leave you disappointed. Plus, don't miss the beautiful mural on the side of the building! read more

See all

The Cookery was the first, and only venue we toured when we got engaged. It is a beautiful space, and we couldn't wait to celebrate there with all our family and friends. Six weeks prior to our April 2020 event we had to postpone due to Covid. When it became clear hosting a Fall 2020 wedding wasn't going to be any safer, we postponed again to Oct of this year. In an attempt to make sure vaccines were available for the children in our wedding party, we attempted to postpone one final time... but were told no. We were not beyond understanding their desire to have our event done and off their books - but pigeonholing us into a date we weren't comfortable with left a bad taste in our mouths. Fast forward to last week. We reached out to our caterer, Durham Catering Company, as we had questions around choosing a new menu. After having a hard time contacting anyone at Durham Catering, we had to get confirmation from The Cookery that Durham Catering was no longer in business. (And by the looks of their social media - HAD been out of business for quite some time.) Not only had one of The Cookery's "preferred" caterers ghosted us, but they took our deposit with them. (To be absolutely clear - the catering deposit check that was cut for Durham Catering was made out to The Cookery.) Now we were left, four months out from our wedding, scrambling to find another caterer from their "preferred" list who could accommodate not only our diminished catering budget... but our Oct date as well. The Cookery may not be contractually obligated to let us know when one of their caterers goes out of business - but are they not morally obligated? Had they given us a head's up that Durham Catering had gone out of business when it happened instead of simply removing them from their website, we would still be getting married at The Cookery this October. At this point we'd rather eat our deposits than give any more money to a business who obviously cares so little about its clients. How many other couples got screwed out of money, had their weddings blown up, and reached out to The Cookery wondering where their caterer had disappeared to? We know we were not the only ones. read more

i liked what i saw on opening day! it was a fun event with live music and a myriad of other food trucks gathered. Beer on tap along with some beer/wine tastings. I tried the pork sausage in a bun. the sausage was good, the bun was a little on the dry side. The bread loaf was a bit too large for the link. it was good for $5 and it has me wanting to come back for more! this looks like a good happy hour place to unwind after work. i have high hopes and look forward to my next meal there. read more

If there was an option for 4.5 stars, I'd give it. And if I got to have my wedding all over again (can we make that a thing? Have a wedding every few years, even to the same person?), I would definitely consider The Cookery. I heard about this place as a commissary for food trucks and then learned they set up event space. I went to their 'Belly Up Public House' event last night and it was so nice. Classic Durham with exposed brick, wood beams, twinkle lights, and really neat stools at the bar style seating around the venue. My concerns are the neighborhood- this one is up and coming. By no means dangerous or anything (don't believe the negative Durham gossip), but it's a work in progress. And the parking. I wasn't exactly sure where to park and once I found a place I wasn't sure it was a good option. My car didn't get towed (or stolen! I hear you Durham haters in the background! Shame on you!). But you know, I'd like to feel good about where I leave it. Scratch that, I owe like 15 grand on that thing, so change that to 'great', I'd like to feel great about where I leave it. ;-) And in conclusion- check it out. You'll be glad you did. read more

I have been here as a guest at two weddings in the past three years and this venue is such a cool spot to have a wedding. It is a smaller venue for a smaller wedding (I believe there were about 50-60 people at both weddings) and it was amazing how different both weddings were in the same space. It is a unique spot with exposed brick and beams which gives it a bit of a Industrial minimalist feel. The first wedding had the ceremony in the upstairs portion, and dinner on the main floor. It was a buffet with a really good mix of items. We were all seated at 6 long tables and we still had room for a small dance floor. There is a full bar which in this particular case was an open bar. The second wedding was so different. Instead the couple opted for small circle tables scattered around the edges. This couple also opted for heavy appetizers instead of the full meal, and the bar offered beer and wine. The appetizers were actually served out on a terrace that was covered in a white tent connected to the main floor. This time there was much more room to walk around and talk to people and more room for a dance floor. I cannot vouch for the cost but as a guest, I really enjoyed both weddings. The sound of the music was great, there was enough room to dance, I did not feel too cramped or hot, a bar is available, and both times had pretty good food (I do not know if they were catered or made at the venue itself). The only downsides of this place is the location. Parking is a bit odd and in whatever dirt parking lots you find (at least I did not get towed since there are not a lot of signs on where you are allowed to park). The surrounding neighborhood is also not as developed with newer buildings yet. Though I did not feel in danger since there were so many people and cars around, it can look a little run-down. read more

Say no to boring, ancient ballrooms; say YES YES YES to The Cookery!!!! We had our wedding reception at The Cookery but I cannot imagine an event that wouldn't take on beauty and style in this magnificent place! The Cookery is vintage and historical, yet modern and luxurious all wrapped in one! It is a venue for events of all kinds! When I first set eyes on just photos of this venue, I knew I had to have it. I was particularly floored by the look of the bar and the stairwell but when I saw this place in person, I was breathless! The gigantic windows and patio add so much to an already beautiful space. Not to mention that there is a lot of history tied to the place--Nick, the owner, would be happy to clue you in! Annnnd, there's a small enclosed brewery that you can see from the balcony! Our guests loved it!  The package deals (patio, audio/visual) are fantastic and cannot be beat! For larger events, the patio is pretty much required. We had about 110 guests and it was cozy and comfortable and there was sufficient space to party and move about.  Both Tammy and Nick were so fun to work with and the communication was fantastic! Most of us bridezillas want immediate responses and Tammy and Nick pretty much delivered on that! Our friends were in awe with The Cookery. We got so many compliments for choosing such an amazing space for our celebration! Our reception was in the evening so when the outside lights are shining in, it all looks so magical!  One thing to consider is tables and chairs and dishes are included but you will have to rent (or buy) some additional items--table cloths, extra serving pieces, a tent for the patio (and heater if weather requires it), and a dance floor. Fortunately, The Cookery has relationships that make it easy to get these items ordered and delivered without much work on your end! The Cookery takes care of the alcohol/bar--Tammy and her staff rocked it out on our wedding day! The drinks were flowing and everyone was happy! The Cookery has recommended vendors for the food and there are some really cool options! We were thrilled to work with Donovan's Dish. The rental prices are already pretty low so there isn't much room for negotiating. You have full control over the layout of your event though and Tammy really has this down! Her vision and recommendations were great. Tammy prepares a custom layout for your event and is very flexible.  I really enjoyed working with The Cookery over the last year and feel so proud when guests continue to tell us how beautiful the space was!!! I'm already thinking about how we can get back to Durham and what other event we can throw in the space! We will be back!!! Thank you for creating such a gorgeous space!!! read more

See all

I loved having our corporate Christmas party at the Cookery. We received so many compliments on the venue's look and atmosphere. The exposed brick and beams give it a lot of charm, the staircase is absolutely beautiful, and the mezzanine area was a really cool hangout at our party. We also opted for the heated tent option, which stayed nice and cozy despite the cold December night. The staff was awesome--passionate about what they do, friendly and competent. The food from Durham Catering was also delicious. Thanks, Cookery! read more

I attended the opening of The Cookery. I was very impressed with the look and location of this commercial kitchen/event venue. The feel is very nice inside. There are a great deal of windows in the front which compliment the high ceilings. The wood floors look very nice. There is an upstairs area that would be perfect for food if you were to host a party here. I have no need to throw a party of any sort but if I did I would highly consider this location. I look forward to taking a cooking class in the commercial kitchen here. The opening was also very well put together. They had an event tent in the open space beside of their building which I take to mean they own it and someone else renting the location could do the same thing if they needed overflow room. They blocked off Chapel Hill Street to allow for several food trucks to set up without worry for their customers. They also had sausages for sell inside with all proceeds going to charity. There was beer and wine sampling although I just stuck to the full beer pours. Great job The Cookery--I look forward to events you host in the future. read more

Ah! TAMMY.IS.AMAZING. We had the perfect wedding. The wedding of our dreams. We owe it all to Tammy! From the moment we stepped in to do a tour to the moment we left on our wedding night, Tammy was nice, supportive, patient, helpful, creative... you name it. There was no problem she could not immediately solve. She had perfect ideas for all our little questions. She answered our emails (we tried not to send too many), she reworked the floor plan, she sat patiently while we assembled for the rehearsal... she handled all the vendors who came in, she arranged the big stuff too- linens, dance floor, tents. Seriously, we would have been overwhelmed handling this but she was a consummate pro. We opted for vendors who had all worked at the Cookery before and it was obvious there was so much synergy because of how awesome she is. I will also say, the bartending staff were super great too! I may or may not have taken a shot of tequila on my way down the aisle, and they got it ready in a flash before it was time for me to walk. They were nice to all our guests and I saw lots of happy people around... I can only imagine it was because of the great bartenders. :D The venue itself is stunning and exactly what we wanted. This was our dream wedding and Tammy and the Cookery made it come true! Tiffany and Steve read more

I've had the pleasure of attending a couple events at The Cookery and most recently this past weekend. I gotta say this event venue used to be a quaint little event space but I'll circle back to the "little" part here in a minute. First, off the original room with its mezzanine is awesome! The way the exposed brick fits in with the re-purposed structure give this place a very rustic feeling and it could't be anymore cozy. It also seems to be a very versatile space in that they can dress it up however need be. Secondly, the staff has always been the most friendly and helpful people I've come across. You could have the best looking place in town but without the right people running it but in the end you wouldn't have much. The Cookery seems to do a outstanding job in the staffing department. Now, getting back to the "little" part.... I had noticed in the past that the Cookery's space was a little on the limited side. Well, as of this past weekend they just opened up some additional space they expanded into on both the back and side of the venue. The end result is what has to be an extra 5000 square feet consisiting of a huge great room, a spacious brick patio, extra bathrooms and even a "Bridal Suite" which can be used as a private room. I got to chatting with the owner Tammy, who is awesome by the way, and she gave me a quick tour of the new areas which weren't in use at the time and I couldn't believe how absolutely beautiful it all looked. The Cookery's new expansions have to have more than doubled the capacity for the venue and added a lot of really cool options for people looking to rent event space. Basically, if you are in the market for a place for your event in Durham this would absolutely be the place to check out. read more

See all

Just had prom at the Front Room of the Cookery. The kids had a blast and even us old folks enjoyed it! The staff was wonderful! The general manager went above and beyond so many times! One example is that we had a student have an allergic reason to all the perfume and cologne. I asked if she happened to have any benadryl. She said she'd look. Next thing I knew she'd gone out and bought some! Great atmosphere, great staff, great evening. read more

Great venue for my friends' wedding of about 120 people! I love the flow of the space how the ceremony was in one large room with high ceilings and a balcony, next to a courtyard, and then a long room for dinner, complete with a bar. Just spacious enough to not feel cramped, but small enough to feel intimate. Food from catering was average, but the bartenders were great! Valet parking available for guests, but overnight street parking is also allowed. My friend was very pleased with the wedding coordinator, Becca. Not sure if she is exclusive to this venue, but would highly recommend her. read more

This is a great urban wedding venue with multiple spaces that hold the various segments of your wedding or event. Beautiful old brick, decorative aged ironwork, open courtyards, and more. The only down side is that the neighborhood surrounding it doesn't look very impressive but once your guests are inside, they'll forget about it. read more

We just had our wedding there a couple of weeks ago and it was such a wonderful event. The staff there is open, friendly and accommodating. Rochelle & Nick helped us find incredible chefs through our their food truck connections and we had the best brunch ever for our wedding reception. It is really spacious with tall ceilings, but able to feel warm and inviting. I would love another party to plan just so I could use this space again! read more

Well done! If you're looking for a place to cater and host an event, this is the spot! The large area complete with bar is versatile and perfect for any event. The exposed brick and beams only add to the over all ambiance. read more

Absolutely fabulous venue! I would recommend the cookery to anyone looking for a unique place like this for weddings, parties or corporate events read more

Great event space! I've always driven by this place and wished I could see the inside...and then I got to go watch the Duke Sweet 16 game here! This place is perfect for any kind of event/party/reception...not incredibly large but I think that makes it even better. More intimate. Downstairs is wide open with a built in full bar and restrooms. Then there is a smaller balcony area upstairs. We watched the game on a giant HD projector...not sure if that's available to anyone to rents this place but I don't see why not. Exposed brick, iron bar stools, vintage twinkly lights...this place is very Durham...very cute. Check it out if you're looking for a venue! read more

What a fun venue! I chose The Cookery as a location for my bridal portraits. I heard about this venue through my wedding planner, Megan from A Southern Soiree. I was looking for a place that would offer a variety of backdrops, especially with a brick/industrial feel. The Cookery has beautiful brickwork inside and also offers exposed paneling for that industrial feel I was looking for. The wrought-iron stools, bar and staircase add a fun, Southern element too! This was a great place for photos and I know it would be a perfect venue for wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and other social events. read more

We hosted our rehearsal dinner at the cookery and I can say it was everything we could have hoped for and more. Tammy and her team were incredibly helpful in planning from start to finish, helping us put together a special event with a lot of custom touches. We couldn't recommend Tammy and her team more, and the space is incredible given its refined industrial feel. read more