Been to Mill house a few times over the years for Christmas lunch with work etc and always thought…read moreit was ok. But, went recently on a Sunday as heard good things about it. What an experience! Bad one at that, really bad. Got hearded into the front bar and left squashed in the entry for about 5 minutes. Finally got our names put down then got drinks from the bar. Waited around 45 minutes to be seated. When eventually seated we were ignored for around 15 minutes more while a pair of waitresses banged and crashed tables and chairs next to us, really wanted to walk out but we had waited so long was afraid no where else would be open. I asked if we were going to be served drinks and I was told someone will be sent over. Another 10 minutes passed and I had to ask again. Food order was took and this came out with drinks another 10 minutes later. Medium sized yorkshire pudding that is like a crisp that probably got made the night before, mashed potato that tasted ok but no seasoning, bland over boiled vegetables that all tasted of each other, and a cold slice of beef. Thin gravy that was probably the best part of the dinner as had some taste. I wasas disgusted with my experience and will never go back - if you like being treated like cattle and are happy with bland, small portions, partly cold food with rubbish service then this is for you! If on the other hand you dont want your sunday ruined by being stressed and un appreciated, try somewhere else!

Nice food, homemade. Do two meals for a tenner at certain times, easy parking outside, also have…read morepizzas. Has a bar area too and also friendly staff and decent service.

We went to the Havelock for a date-night and had a reasonably enjoyable time. Based on this…read moreexperience, we would describe this as a cheap and cheerful type of place. The pub itself is fairly small if you exclude the outdoor area. The decor is attractive, if slightly worn in places, and the only thing about it that I really didn't like was the two massive widescreen TVs positioned in the dining area. The sound was just audible enough to be annoying and football matches were screened for the first hour or so that we were there followed by some BBC drama. I though these were unnecessary in the dining area and significantly detracted from the overall atmosphere. Later in the evening, the TV sound was drowned out by some disco music which again wasn't what I would have chosen for a dining area at all. We came on on a specials day (Mondays and Thursdays currently have 2 starters and 2 pizzas/pastas for £12) and found the bar and restaurant to be fairly crowded at 19:15 but by 21:00 when we left it had quietened right down. The a la carte menu was a shortish list of fairly basic pub fare aside from the steaks (of this more below), and we decided to go with the £12 special. We chose the dough balls and potato skins for our starters. The skins were greasy but tasty, and came with chilli and sour cream sauces, clearly from a bottle but which went well with them. The dense but fresh home-made dough balls were let down by their garlic butter which was basically a large chunk of butter in a little paper cup covered with a spoonful of garlic paste. We enjoyed our pizzas (which arrived rather late but we had an apology for that). The cheese on them was decent and the bases were very tasty, and although they weren't huge, we found them the perfect size after the starters. (Cautionary note: we do not have large appetites.) The pub also offer an unusual steak experience that is a little at odds with the rest of their very basic pub menu, and these are Steakstones. If you go for one of these expensive numbers, you get your choice of fillet or sirloin delivered to your table on a sizzling hot stone tablet so that you can finish cooking it as much or as little as you like. (We saw one at the next table.) Personally, as a rather particular steak-eater, I'd much rather have a chef cook my expensive steak than do it myself, and with the rest of the place being so cheap and cheerful, I was reluctant to commit £16 to discover how good or bad their choice of meat (and my cooking skills) could be. Overall, good value for a cheap meal out if you go on a specials night and probably about average the rest of the time. Unless you choose the steak!

Nice pub, last time I was there it was quiet. The food was lovely but the thing that put me off was…read morethe dog... yes a dog... Think it belonged to a member of staff and unfortunately kept weeing on the floor when it got excited. Apart from that I enjoyed the experience, watched a bit tv, had comfy chairs, reasonable prices.

I'm most definitely a meat man and there's nothing worse when you go for Sunday lunch and you get…read moreas many veggies as you want, but the smallest portion ever of the meat itself. I've been here two or three times recently and it's certainly not an issue. Excellent well cooked meat, nice properly cooked veggies (not soggy and tasteless) and the best bit.....they actually advertise a "Trio" where if you can't decide which roast to have, you can have a nice juicy slice of each. Even better, they do a "Monster" where you get a double portion of Meat. Great food, reasonably price (but great value) combined with 2 or 3 very nice guest ales available most days and some very helpful smiley staff and I couldn't think of a better place to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I've been here a good few times and has always been lovely…read more For the price you get massive portions and is always really good food.

My Mum, Aunties and their friends all meet up here twice a week if not more for a Latte or two. I…read moretry to join them when I have the time as their Latte is the Latte to DIE FOR ! Run by lovely friendly husband and wife team and their capable staff. Also has FAB cavery ,in which we've all eaten many times with great satisfaction both on special occasions and everyday not so special occasions . Five Star Establishment Friendly Atmosphere By Della Gisby (the Twins Daughter/Niece) and business owner: http://www.kleeneze4income.com

I love the Ox and Plough, staff are friendly. I used to spend all my money on the jukebox playing…read moreZeppelin and playing pool. Do nice cheese toasties. I have been to many events there, such as engagement parties and it has always been lovely.

awsome pub awsome…read morestaff awsome carvery worth the 5 star rateing its nesr to my home and their very strict on who they let inn ect

***This is a review of the Italian restaurant at the Board Inn*** This place is a little weird. We…read morewere told at the hotel we were staying at that there was an Italian place just around the corner. The name if the restaurant is I think the Tavistock Italia at the Board Inn. When we entered, two guys were propping up the bar silently. It looked pretty grim. "Er..is there an Italian restaurant in here?" I nervously asked. One of the guys said there indeed was, through the opposite door. In we went and the difference was immediate-despite it being a Tuesday night the place was stoked. It was a really nice local trattoria with an Italian theme-pictures of Sophia Loren and other sundry italian sites and persons as well as Italian themes music etc. It could have been cheesy but wasn't. The decor was certainly well done. We had the bruscetta and squid to start. The former was quite nice, though it is tricky to ruin a bruscetta. The squid was ok-a little tough but not to the extent that it spoiled the dish. I had a pizza which was pepperoni and chorizo (see photo). Although it was billed as hot, it wasn't but this didn't matter as it was a really tasty pizza. The toppings were generous and good quality. My Mum had a tagliatelli which she said was delicious. The service was friendly. All told a very nice local restaurant.

we popped in here for lunch on a family day out. it was fairly quiet…read more A reasonable lunch menu of mostly sandwiches is available. Staff were friendly and courteous. Food was slightly too long in coming, but nice enough when it arrived.

Review refers to accommodation and food/drink…read more Live in Boston, USA, went back home to NE England to celebrate parents' 50th anniversary which was booked at The Moorings, so decided to stay there as well. As a country pub, the 100+ year old Moorings (formerly known as the Traveller's Rest) has some great local ales on draft (cask and nitro) and excellent food. Breakfast choice from full English, salmon scramble, home-made yoghurt, good coffee, and free newspapers. For dinner, the steak and black pudding suet pie was excellent as was the steamed chocolate pudding with home-made honey ice cream. As a hotel, the rooms are contemporary, light, clean, quiet and came complete with a hot tub! Excellent service from all staff members (including the load of an iPhone charger). Good spot for walks across to Waldridge Fell. Bus links to Chester-le-Street. Excellent value for money and a very restful. Website: http://www.themooringsdurham.co.uk/