Six Fabulous Foodie Experiences in Durham

Durham is home to a whole host of foodie experiences that will get your taste buds tingling.

If you’re thinking of enjoying a getaway in Durham this year, you’ll find lots of tempting foodie experiences to have across the county during your stay.

Here's just a few suggestions to take your pick from... 

Enjoy a tipple or two on a brewery tour

Durham is home to many award-winning breweries including Durham Brewery – the oldest brewery in the county, which brews cask, keg and bottled beer. Beer lovers can go behind the scenes with a guided tour of the microbrewery every Saturday. Learn about the history and culture of beer, get a closer look at how beer is made and enjoy delicious samples. 

For an indulgent stay head to the South Causey Inn, where you can enjoy home-distilled gins and craft ales from the on-site brewery and distillery. Make a brewery tour part of your stay, where you’ll join Master brewer John Taylor for two hours of beer filled fun, brewers lunch, beer tasting and even get to take home your very own distillery t shirt and engraved ale glass. 

• Did you know South Causey’s gins are named after the hotel’s resident dogs? – Rip the bull dog and Eddy the Labrador. 

Farm Shops and Farmers Markets

Durham is blessed with beautiful farmland that produces delicious meats, fruits and vegetables. Throughout the year you’ll find tasty local produce to enjoy at quaint farm shops and traditional farmers markets. 

You’ll find stalls busting with everything from seasonal fruit and veg, to meat, cheese, chocolate and homemade pickles, breads and craft ales at Barnard Castle Farmer's Market, which takes place the first Saturday of every month. And come rain or shine, on the third Thursday of every month you’ll find the traditional farmers market in Durham City.  

At the family-ran Bradley Burn Farm Shop and café you can enjoy delicious home-cooked meals and buy the very best range of fresh food from local farmers. And at Thorpe Farm you can treat yourself to speciality food and drink, as well as make new friends at the on-site animal rescue centre. 

Food Festivals

Durham is home to the region’s biggest foodie event – Bishop Auckland Food Festival which returns 18 – 17 April. You’ll find the UK’s top street food traders alongside local producers and live cookery theatre starring famous faces like Master Chef’s John Torode and Great British Bake Off star Jane Beedle. 

Along the shores of Durham’s Heritage Coast you’ll find over 100 food and drink traders, celebrity chefs, foodie workshops, live music and more at the second Seaham Food Festival 13 – 14 June. Both festivals are free to attend. 

Click here to view more foodie events happening across the county in 2020 >> 

Get a real taste of the past

At Beamish The Living Museum of the North you can experience the sights, sounds, smells and even tastes of the past. 

Try the museum’s famous fish and chips at Davy’s Fired Fish Shop, cooked in coal-fired ranges using beef dripping. Help bake a cake following 1940s recipe on the coal fired range at the 1940s farm and in the 1900s Town pick up freshly baked Edwardian treats bread at the Bakery or pop in for a pint at the Sun Inn.

Make your visit to the museum even more extra-special by pre-booking a traditional experience, and have a go yourself at making historic foods. Indulge your sweet tooth and have a go at making traditional confectionary in the 1900s sweet shop, spend an evening in the 1940s farm kitchen for a wartime cookery experience or learn how to produce delicious bread following Edwardian recipes on a traditional bread making experience. 
 

Magical Afternoon Teas

No matter what time of year you plan on visiting, you’re certain to find an enchanting Afternoon Tea experience to enjoy at Crook Hall and Gardens in Durham City. Sip specially themed cocktails and delicious local produce at quirky themed Afternoon Tea events. From Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, to Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Christmas movie inspired and even a haunted house Afternoon Tea. 

Say cheese!

Cafe Cheesedale in the Durham Dales is a must-visit for any cheese lovers. Enjoy a tea or coffee and a bite to eat in the cafe, pick up some delicious Teesdale Cheese to take homr with you. Pay a visit to see how the cheese is made at the on-site dairy. You can even meet rare breed pigs which eat the whey (by-product of cheese making).  

These are just some of the many fantastic food experiences you can enjoy across the county. To find out more and start planning your tasty getaway to Durham click here >>

You'll find lots of tasty places to stay, delectable local produce and many #TasteDurham award-winning places to eat and drink.