Pack Horse Inn in County Durham

Although it is stated that bar food is served, that is not the case. They no longer serve food. However, they serve a nice pint.

Traditional old fashioned pub with a small beer garden to the rear (no view) & a few bench tables to the front which is a bit further from the main road but again good vantage point to watch the world go by, decent beer too & reasonable prices, great Sunday afternoon visit.

Thank you to all who made us feel very welcome, lovely staff and local customers, and a big thanks to all who donated to our charity... We finished and raised £1200👏👏 The local curry house provided great tasty food, big portion sizes too 👍

Stayed in village for a week spent most nights in the pack horse made very welcome spot on ales and a very welcoming staff would recommend it to anyone who wants a good atmosphere and peaceful night 👍👍👍

I’m really impressed with the Packhorse Inn, we arrived dripping wet from what could be described as a monsoon on our second day of C2C. They promptly secured our bikes, the room is decent and clean and on top of that the owner offered to tumble dry our wet gear including shoes. The atmosphere in the bar was great too. Would thoroughly recommend!

Positives: staff were friendly, bike and pannier lock up available Negatives: Rooms tiny more single size than double or triple and had a tiny bathroom .. one en-suite didn’t include a shower/ bath: there was a shared shower along the corridor. For shared use. Mattresses and pillows very soft , not a comfortable stay, Horrible smell throughout the accommodation no wifi upstairs snd TV in the room was too small to watch. Breakfast was continental and no food was being served in the bar but you were allowed to bring food in. After a very hard day in the saddle this is not a place to go to be able to relax sadly.

Just drinks for us, as food was unavailable during our stay in Stanhope, but what a delightful bar! Staff were all so friendly and welcoming! It was lovely to relax and have a drink indoors after so long, safe in the knowledge that all covid restrictions were being adhered to.

Visited as a stop on the C2C cycle route and stayed in the rooms upstairs. Staff very welcoming and accommodating. Don't miss the beer garden if the sun is shining. Due to Covid they weren't doing food - but allowed us to eat our fish & chips in the bar. How to run a pub.

I have been coming here for a drink to the Pack Horse on holiday breaks in the uk for the last 5 years. I have had so many bad experiences recently in the bad times we are in, encountering so many rude people speaking to me like a second class citizen, and wanting top dollar for an average pint. I came here for one last roll of the dice to see if I could find somewhere I could enjoy, whilst in these restricted times. On entry, smiling faces, sanitiser and track and trace to fill in, but done with a smile and a warm welcome. Directed to a socially distanced table and informed there may be a slight delay due to table service only. Great sixties music playing at a lower level in the background, locals smiling at us and being friendly, comfy seats and the staff actually wanting us there. The prices are great and the quality of the drinks were lively and tasted clean and fresh. These guys will survive this pandemic I’m sure, as their attitude is bang on whilst following the rules, keep it up guys. We will be back.

OK – I get the other review on here (which in my view is a bit harsh); however, this OLD pub is clearly being renovated and some of the accommodation is tired and dated (hence 4 rather than a 5 star review); but it’s clean – the towels were crisp, and the bed linen too. The Land Lady (Sarah) is lovely, really welcoming and provides excellent conversation and interest in her guests. She was very accommodating, allowing us to order in Indian food from the take away across the road (which is excellent by the way). The beer we had in the Packhorse was lovely, some of the best we tried on the whole trip. Sarah provided us with secure bike storage, and made sure that we had clean water bottles for our trip. Although the place does have some faults, it is charming, and I would happily stay there again and watch how Sarah and her colleagues renovate the pub and bring it up to date.

Sarah I enjoyed speaking to u yesterday afternoon. We, well u spoke about lots of things and I'm grateful for ur hospitality and u r a wonderful person. I shall be visiting you again soon. Everyone should make time to have food and drink in this pub, highly recommended.

I stayed at The Packhorse on day 2 of my Coast to Coast cycle ride. I arrived around 5pm and the pub was very busy so it took an absolute age to get the attention of the owner / Manager(?) I was shown to my room which was small and my first impression very grotty. The single bed mattress was beyond uncomfortable and way past it’s best, but because it was only for one night, I decided to put up with it. There was no en-suite rooms and the shared bathroom was basic and really dirty from previous users. I endured the night, not sleeping very well because of the noise in the pub and got up early for breakfast in the hope I’d be first in and away as soon as possible. The breakfast was pretty much as bad as I’ve ever had. Cheap end ingredients (the sausage was disgustingly bad) and overcooked eggs. This place should be avoided at all costs. It cost me £55 a night which is a disgrace for the “quality” offered. If I ever decide to do the C2C again and The Packhorse has the only accommodation available in the area, I’ll opt for the bus shelter and advise any sensible readers to do the same. The owner is very lucky to be on the C2C route and has seemingly adopted the attitude of “we’ll never see them again so I’m not bothered” and “take their money and run”. AVOID at all costs.

Slightly biased as we are in the Pub every friday night playing cards! But always welcoming to one and all.

Visited today for Sunday lunch excellent menu plenty to choose from great value big potions and such friendly helpful staff highly recommend

Had a pint and a packet of crisps this evening whilst spending the week in sleepy Stanhope. Quaint little village pub, maybe decor a bit tired but only one other family in tonight in the height of the summer season. Friendly bar tender. Enjoyed sitting outside in the market place.

Friendly bar staff and customers, dog friendly and good juke box. Down to earth local pub with lovely log burner and open fire. Nice and cosy.

Great welcoming, staff fantastic cheap drinks Music good, nice fires we will definitely be back thanks for great night

Visited this lovely pub on Sunday 28th October. Great Atmosphere, with nice background music playing. Very friendly Barmaid,made the wife and I feel very welcome. No food but was informed that if we wanted to order food from the Everyday cafe opposite we could eat it in the Bar. As we were in the car we only had soft drinks. But will certainly visit again, if weather permits without the car.

A brilliant little pub. If you are in this area you must pay it a visit. A cycling group of 12 blokes arrived on a wet lunchtime and we were made so welcome. A real fire, excellent homemade cooking, decent beer and music.

I love this place and is the first pub to head for when in market place Stanhope. Lovely friendly pub, amazing staff, good selection of drinks open fire and jukebox. Always guaranteed a good Saturday night out!

Just got in from a great film night here. It's a proper local border, so you won't get candlelight, the finest Chablis or Milton brown hand wash, but you will get honest down to earth pub with cheap drinks, pool & a real fire. Best night for us for a long time. Thankyou

I was the sole customer on a Thursday lunchtime, and I had the beer garden all to myself.

It was a Saturday and Stanhope was busy. The Pack Horse was on the quieter side of the street so we gave it a try - just for a beer and a sit in the beer garden - which turned out to be a small smelly back yard. Food was being served in the "beer garden" and people worried by wasps. Two hand pulls - one not working. If you like a traditonal dark dingy pub you may like this one.