Vennels Café - Durham

Hamzah A.

Vennels Café has a charming, historic atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time. It’s unique and clearly a well-loved, family-run spot.

However, despite the hype and long queues, I found it lacking that wow factor. The panini was tasty but felt overpriced for what I got, and unfortunately, the coffee was really disappointing.

I wanted to love it, but my experience didn’t quite match the expectations.

Vas M.

Fantastic food, can't go wrong with anything. I've tried scones, sandwiches and soups and they're all tasty. I highly recommend you go for an early lunch because it gets busy fast even when the rest of the town isn't as busy.

Em

My favourite café in Durham, definitely one of the best. It's a lovely family-run café serving delicious foods from sandwiches, jackets, quiches to cakes, and not to mention flavoursome ham broth. They also serve the local Durham "hummus"! Lovely comfort foods - very accommodating to allergens.

Kristina A.

I didn’t like the food, the coffee was ok. Lovely staff. Cute interior.

Sam H.

Popped in for a quite bite after the Cathedral tour and I was not disappointed. Tucked away behind the shops it almost felt like I was walking into someone's service area. As you round the alley you are greeted by a cozy courtyard with covered seating.

I found myself a table and surveyed the menu, all sounded tempting and all very reasonably priced. (Probably because I'm used to London prices).

In the end I went for a hot beef stottie which was slow cooked pulled beef in a delicious toasted roll slathered in a yummy gravy.

In line with a somellier I paired this with a lemon iced tea which was made by a Lipton and Co. Crisp and refreshing and was a nice paring.

The stottie was delicious, meat was tender and flavourful and the extra pot of gravy was delicious and a nice addition. It was clear to see that it was made from the cooking liquid from the meat as it had chunks of beef in it.

Totally delicious and served with pea shoots.

All for a bargain price of 13 pounds.

A couple of lightly fried or even thinly sliced raw onions may have been a nice addition however certainly not needed.

10/10 good British comfort food

Jasmine B.

Lovely dog friendly cafe in the centre of Durham. We stopped here today for brunch with our dog today which was lovely. Long queue to order but our food came quickly after ordering! Staff very friendly and welcoming. It’s tucked away down an alley so easy to miss on the street but worth a visit!

Sarah S.

I came across this lovely,cosy little cafe during a recent visit to Durham. It is tucked away down a quaint little alleyway just off the main shopping street leading up to the Cathedral. It has a nice courtyard with outdoor seating,perfect on a hot summers day, and ample seating inside.
The cafe only has a small menu and is high on the price side,but I think it is worth it for the coffee and the cakes as they are like nothing I've ever tasted!
The staff of lovely ladies were very friendly, and I was served after only a short wait despite the cafe being extremely busy for a Monday lunchtime.
Overall I had a lovely experience and would recommend this cafe to any Durham visitor,looking for a bite to eat.

Ian P.

Food and service always good, however, always struggle to get seated due to students sitting taking up tables with laptops out and obviously finished eating. Other cafes have taken action with this, Vennels need to follow suit.