The Coffee House in County Durham

Upon the wall are the words: Be real. Be unique. Be honest. Be happy. They sum up this lovely independent coffee shop. Good food, well priced, friendly staff and a nice atmosphere. The soup and cold sandwich special is superb value, and always delicious. Only one thing lets the place down, and it can be easily rectified. The loo is in need of brightening up, and a little TLC. The toilet didn't flush for myself or the previous visitor, and the tap is coming away from the wash basin. A coat of light-coloured paint, a couple of large, light-bouncing mirrors and some basic maintenance would make this small but important space fit for an otherwise great cafe.

Visited here today with my partner we ordered a panini and a toastie. It says 2 x fillings included in price toasties 3.95, paying 4.45 and additional items charged as priced so I order avocado and chicken in my toasties and asked for additional sweet chilli sauce at 25p but no they charged me an extra 1.50 instead for the avocado so the price was actually 5.45 when I challenged this after seeing the receipt was told this is how the till works it out total rip off does not say that on the menu same happened with partners paying 1.50 extra for his avocado instead of the 50p for his black pudding. Very sly and underhanded pricing. I did receive one of the 1.50s back but only because i took off the sweet chilli sauce. Wonder how many people don't realise this. Will not be going back here and wouldn't recommend others. Moral of the story don't add more than 2 fillings otherwise you get ripped off

Staff friendly. Coffee really nice. Sandwiches and cakes looked very nice, so maybe next time we will indulge. Plenty of customers which is a good sign.

Visited here many times for coffee which is usually nice, but very disappointed today to try a brie and tomato panini only to find very little brie inside. Couldn't even taste the cheese. Won't hurry back for food when there are so many cafes in the city who are generous with ingredients.

A simple lunch spot in the city centre close to the Gala theatre. It was ideal for a relaxed lunch with friends, and we sampled the toasties, and the soup and cold sandwich combo. The latter (my choice) was very good indeed. Homemade Spicy Parsnip Soup, and a Chilli Chicken panini. The toasties (cheese) were also enjoyed. I noticed two lads were finding the sandwich menu options on the large blackboard confusing (individual ingredients listed and priced, to be chosen in addition to two ingredients that are included?) Fortunately, my soup and ready-made cold sandwich meant I didn't need to ponder the board, but I could appreciate the lads' point. All in all, a pleasant first visit. Friendly staff, good food at fair prices and the choice of sitting inside or out. Be aware, that it's not a large cafe, so sitting outside may be necessary in busy times.

A lovely little independent café, serving an amazing array of beverages and culinary delights. A short walk away from the river, located near the centre of town, it is a brilliant place to grab a hot drink and a slice of indulgent cake. The prices are very competitive!

Has a tired and unwelcoming vibe in marked contrast to the days when it felt like a happy home from home. Sullen and dreary service. Ignored on arrival whilst they attended to other orders. That’s fair enough if they are busy but the very least they could have done is look up, smile and say “hello, be with you in a minute”. Our drinks were brought to us with a soulless announcement of “tea”. This used to be a lovely, friendly place to come to. Sad deterioration. Won’t return. On a plus side - coffee and tea were good.

We sat outside to drink our coffee, it took a while to arrive - but was worth the wait. The coffee was very nice, as was the atmosphere inside the café. It was a pleasant change from the "chains".

This used be such a lovely cafe. Last few times, service has been very slow and some grumpy staff serving. Tables left dirty, this time I cleaned it myself and removed the pots and half eaten food. Floor not too clean either and the toilet was also dirty with paper towels all over the floor. Really sad, won’t be going back.

The caramel late i ordered was so sweet i had to ask if they would make me another - with half as much syrup in it. They did and it was great! The table was dirty when i sat down and although the waitress returned to wipe it when she noticed when she delivered my food, she didnt wipe it all.... Got the impression the staff werent that bothered/interested in their jobs. Probably wouldnt return here - plenty of other places serve coffee in this area.

Popped in for a breakfast bap and tea after having been to the passport office. A large well filled bap (husband had sausage and mine was bacon) and a large mug of tea. Good seating area both inside and out. Reasonably priced for the area.

Absolutely worst experience visiting this coffee shop. I visited the coffee shop today with my elderly mother as we thought it would be nice to get a scone and a coffee. Durham was busy as there was a band festival on so the coffee shop was busy Unfortunately they ran out of fruit scones so I opted for a cheese one and asked if they could do a plain chicken sandwich on brown for my mother who has a food intolerance to cheese etc so a panini and toastie was no good I was informed that they don’t have brown bread and that they cannot make sandwiches upon request I therefore opted for a plain sausage sandwich and was told that there would be a 20 min wait for food. I also ordered two large lattes The waitress brought over my scone and informed me that there was no butter or marg so I said I cannot eat a dry cold scone so she snatched it from me and stormed off The sane waitress came over with our lattes and with a very unhappy face she slammed my money on the table in front of me I was absolutely appalled with her behaviour and said to another waitress that she was really rude and she said she would have a word. There was no apology nor was I asked if I wanted anything else The coffee was weak and tasteless and after waiting 25 mins we were presented with a thick white bread sausage sandwich with two sausages cut in half no butter and nor was the sandwich cut in half. We won’t be visiting this coffee shop again!!

We had freshly made paninis for our lunch, that were made to order from a wide range of ingredients at a cost of just over £4 each. Our coffees were also excellent and served quickly. We ate outside as it was a sunny day. Great location, opposite the Gala theatre/square, near the library.

Called in this lovely cafe for lunch , I had homemade veg soup and my husband had carrot soup also we had a sandwich each both really really nice , the staff are very friendly and the cafe is warm and cosy and very good prices , will definitely go again .

very nice staff, service with a smile! not a nice enough day to sit outside but inside is very cosy!

11am Saturday. Coffee machine should be non stop. A hive of activity. Nope. Machine was silent . 1 order was taken. Slowly. Queue of 5 people. And the same person on the till broke off to wipe an ice cream tub to put it away. The other staff member wasn't looking at the queue either. Queued for 10 mins and gave up.

Visited for breakfast and had 2 bacon sandwiches, 2 pastries and 2 coffees for £15. The cappuccino wasn't good, burnt reheated milk, tiny amount of foam, weak coffee, it was miserable. The bacon sandwich was possibly one of the worst I've ever had, 2 rashers of barely cooked bacon in a stale bun burnt on top. Brown sauce on the side tasted like the cheapest quality money can buy. Gregg's serve a bacon roll and coffee for 2 quid which is far superior in quality. So that's saying something! You can not honestly tell me the manager is proud to serve food like this? I would be happy to pay extra if I knew I was going to get a fresh bun packed with crispy bacon and HP sauce. I didn't complain at the time as I wasnt confident I would be given anything better, it's clear that this is what is being served regularly. It's a shame as the cafe is in a great spot with some nice outdoor seating unfortunately, that won't be enough to get me to go back, I'd rather go to Gregg's!

Staying nearby we ate here three mornings running. The staff were pleasant and the menu leaning towards more healthy options rather than a full English. The breakfast wrap was very tasty and very filling. The avocado bagel was really good as was the smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. The bacon roll was OK but the roll could do with being buttered. Didn’t try any cakes but the selection looked very tempting as did the takeaway ready made wraps and sandwiches. A good choice for a healthier option.

The cafe was amazing. Great service and the food was terrific. All of the staff where very kind and helpful. Would recommend

Called in here for quick drink and cake to escape the rain. Although we had to sit outside, we were under cover so stayed dry. Waitress service quick and food lovely, especially as there was a cake and coffee special. Carrot cake delicious but fruit scone a little dry, but still nice.

Visited today during the fire and ice festival, so it was quite busy. I had a decaf soy latte and vegan banana and cinder toffee cake. It’s great to see a small cafe having plenty vegan options including falafel sandwich and salad in the fridge, BBQ jackfruit wrap, vegan cheese to use in toasties, avocado bagel and vegan sausage sandwich in the breakfast section, as well as cakes etc.

Been twice. 1st time was fine, drinks good and had a nice warmed up cheese scone. 2nd time drinks fine, but the sandwiches took too long to come. Both should have been brown bread but one was white and the chips came 10 minutes later. Staff very apologetic but not good enough. I'll give it another chance though.

Awful cold winters day in Durham so decided to stop for hot chocolate. Mint aero hot chocolate served with cream & sprinkles, absolutely lovely. Service quick & staff friendly.

Great value coffee, paninis and sweet slices. Friendly staff and busyness reflects the obvious popularity 👍🏻

Went for a quick breakfast, we did not realise at first it was order at desk, so a pause while we waited. Staff did not speak to us at all. It went downhill. Coffee ok, tea stewed. We ordered 1 bacon sandwich, 1 sausage sandwich and a toasted tea cake. We got 2 bacon butties. Sent 1 back and a sausage butty eventually arrived but sausage was hardly cooked. Bacon butty was undercooked too and not good. Tea cake did not appear and they had to be reminded to get it. As sausage butty was hardly edible, I asked for a tea cake but they did not have anymore. So I asked for a Danish pastry instead. I couldn’t understand why it took so long, as they were on counter. They then put the danish under the grill. Our quick breakfast took too long and was a waste of money.

Upon arrival staff made us very welcome with service that was attentive with a happy friendly smile. Large selection of cakes , scones & biscuits. Hot snacks and sandwiches. Dog friendly with a bowl of water and biscuit thrown in. Well done all would certainly recommend.

Decided to stop for an afternoon treat after a busy day sightseeing in Durham and wanted a quieter place to eat outside. Tea/coffee and cake deal is great value and we had 3 pots of tea, a smoothie and a cake each for just over £16. (Four of us in total). Friendly and welcoming staff who were really helpful and informative. Well worth a visit.

Excellent coffee and service Lots of outdoor space Breakfast wraps / sandwiches really nice Location is great We often pop here for drinks after parking up, before having a wander around Durham

Came to Durham for a training camp, stopped off for a coffee. Had fantastic service from some lovely girls. Can’t wait to come back. 100% recommend

Popped in for a quick drink - well priced menu, good quality food, a sandwich for £2.65!!! Good range of home made cakes too. Can’t beat this place they don’t scrimp on the tea either!!

The Coffee House Durham was a great find in Durham. Very friendly staff, and excellent food and service to match. Nothing to much trouble if not on menu. Very clean and well decorated inside. Well worth a visit.

We were looking for somewhere that wasn't a chain (Cafe Nero etc) for a cuppa and remembered passing this coffee place. Why haven't we been here before? It was lovely.Staff were friendly and helpful. We ordered cappucinos and a cheese scone to share - we weren't too hungry and the homemade scones were HUGE!Reasonably priced.I think I know why we hadn't been here before - it was always packed and even with the seating outside full. We would make the effort to come back even if we had to wait for a table, it's worth it!

Visited with 2 children and the choice was great. Coffee is lovely and panninis very nice. Was surprised to not be asked details for track and trace. Staff seemed very stressed but it was busy due to eat out to help out scheme so I don’t blame them. A lovely place that we’ve decided we will visit more often now we’ve found it.

Amazing afternoon tea with a great selection of teas and coffees. Table reservation and great service.

Another visit to the coffee house and another great experience. Coffee great, milkshake great, cakes great. Can not fault the place at all. Staff very friendly. Did I mention the cakes??

Excellent coffee place! Amazing staff and delicious coffee and cakes. Makes you feel at home! Very clean and organised place! Highly recommend a visit!

We started our day in The Coffee House. A scone and a granola bar with two cappuccinos. The staff were really friendly and welcoming, and the coffee and snacks were great.

My first visit to the coffee house with my mother and my mother in law who has dementia for our afternoon tea and was very pleased, the food was delicious and the service was first class. We enjoyed a cosy window seat and was made to feel very welcome form start to finish and all our needs was catered for. Thank you to Richard and his amazing staff for a 1st class service. We will be back shortly x

Stopped in for a latte and a sweet and to get out of the cold. We enjoyed our coffee and the cinnamon crumble cake very much. The staff were very friendly. I had a vanilla latte and my son had a mocha. Both were delicious, as was the cinnamon cake.

Another trip to The Coffee House Durham and another very warm welcome from Richard and his staff. Coffee and cake absolutely delightful as always.

This used to be my favourite place for a hot chocolate. Went today and it was grainy - not at all the same as it used to be. The cheese scone I had was very stodgy and left half of it.

Another great visit to this cafe where they have just started doing Afternoon Teas. Egg mayo and Ham & Cheese sandwiches in the softest lightest buns I’ve ever had and the perfect size. Fresh warm scones, fruit & plain, with jam and clotted cream. Delicious. A selection of cakes, chocolate brownie which is enough to satisfy the sweetest tooth, Brandy snap and salted caramel square. All of which was scrummy. A place definitely worth a visit.

Fantastic coffee, fantastic customer service Ideal location for a coffee stop! Will definitely be returning here!

Thank you so much The Coffee House Durham for doing the cakes for Flynn’s christening. We couldn’t get a picture quick enough of the cupcakes because as soon as we put them out they were getting eaten, and they were amazing. Won’t lie to you, tastiest cake I’ve had and looks exactly how we wanted it, thanks again!

I visited with my partner a few weeks ago. Lovely staff who were very welcoming and polite. Good coffee and cake 🍰 what more could you want?

Great coffee, cakes and service. Highly recommend to anyone and prefer it to Costa and starbucks. Richard and his staff are fantastic and very friendly

Our first ever visit to the coffee house and it certainly WONT BE THE LAST - greeted by the owner / manger who made us most welcome. Very quick friendly service, great coffee and can thoroughly recommend the tasty toffee tiffin. Looking forward to our next visit, so we can try other things from the menu.

Wonderful first impressions; lovely atmosphere; friendly and efficient staff; great drink and cake choice!! Perfect place to sit and people watch - definitely be back 😊

One of those blink and you'll miss it places but well worth keeping your eyes open. A great range of fresh cakes, soups and sandwiches served with a warm welcome. Definitely worth a visit.

I jumped in to the coffee house for a quick hot chocolate whilst shopping, loved the fact there was dairy free options for my boy!(dairy intolerance)... A 5 minute stop ended up being half hour as the conversation with staff was a great breath of fresh air, just complimented my table service.

What a difference a few weeks make. New ownership with an enthusiastic positive vibe: fresh cakes, hot soup of the day, gluten free, dairy free, card payments now accepted. Efficient and courteous service in spite of a hectic day during the Durham light show.

We stopped into The Coffee House this afternoon for some coffees whilst my wife fed our 12 week old. The coffee was delicious and we were even tempted by the cakes too!

I visit The Coffee House regulary sometimes on my own and mainly socially with friends for lunch. It is now under new management and as a person with special major dietary needs I am so grateful for the changes that have been made in such a short space of time which affords me the opportunity to eat out. The owner and staff are pleasant and card payments are now available also. The new owner strives to meet customer needs and is open to suggestions. Thank you

I came in to buy a hot chocolate but was told they did not accept card.. so I said I would quickly eat my food outside on a corner table out of the way and return once I had drawn out money to purchase the hot chocolate. The tables outside were all empty, and the inside was also fairly empty as it was during working hours. I sat outside for around 5 minutes eating my food and was about to leave to go to the cash machine when the male member of staff asked me to “move on” in a degrading tone as if I was a common tramp sleeping in their doorway. I was quickly grabbing food and (intending to purchase a drink) in between medical testing appointments as I suffer health problems... and left the table in tears as I had received bad news regarding my medical state. I found this service to be ageist and rude as I’d already attempted to purchase a drink and had made my intentions of returning with cash very clear but was still asked to leave. My father has been to the same coffee house several times and found the same staff to be very amicable, as did I when I was with my parents, however when alone and clearly a student I did not receive any respect at all.

We called into the cafe on a busy Saturday and managed to secure a corner table. We all enjoyed our lunch - cheese and hamm toasties and i have to say that my toasted cheese scone was superb which i followed with a skinny blueberry muffin also delicious. Coffee was really good as well. We enjoyed a relaxing hour people watching as it is a great corner location to see all of the bustle of the town.

Absolutely disgusted that when my young son walked in to ask if he could use the toilet as he was desperate for a wee, he was refused. I was waiting in the bus queue round the corner and looked to see him looking lost. They had given him false directions to a toilet that wasn’t there. We were visiting the area and were fairly lost ourselves. My poor son ended up waiting until we got back to the park and ride toilet.

I called into the Coffee House for lunch, they had a good choice of sandwiches and cakes and I was made welcome by the chap at the till who greeted me with a smile. I chose a ham salad roll with a large coffee, the roll was lovely light and fresh and the coffee was decent, not to bitter. The place was full which is easy to see why, a welcome, happy spot.

Came to this cafe to have coffees and sandwiches went to the till to order when my little girl approached me needing the toilet I went to the toilet and was rudely told we could not use it as we had not bought anything. I politely told them we are buying food and drink and the rude man told me ‘no, there is public toilets out there take her there, then come back’. Never heard anything like it before no way did I want to give them my money after this. I felt victimised as I was a young mum alone and what am I to do let my child aged 7 go to toilet alone whilst I order a stupid coffee. & I thought northerners where meant to be nice LOL

This is a good coffee shop in a central location in Durham. It offers the usual sort of items, decent coffee, cakes, paninis and such and newspapers are provided. It is not perhaps the best coffee shop in town but is certainly decent, clean and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for a quick coffee or snack.

Lovely little cafe,proprietor and staff are most welcoming and pleasant. The lady took our order and delivered it to our table. Lovely coffee too!

The Coffee House is a small cafe located in Millennium Place Durham, next to the library. The inside seating area is small and, in fine weather, they place tables and chairs outside. Newspapers can be borrowed.

I enjoyed my visit here which happened to be on a very pleasant day so I could enjoy sitting outside and watching people going by. The coffee was fine and scone very tasty. Service was good and prices fair. I would return here.

I visit it regularly while in Durham. It is very near to the Gala Theatre. The staff are very pleasant, scones are wonderful, especially the cheese ones when warmed. You can sit in or outside and people watch.

Horrible experience. Worst customer service. Unacceptable discriminatory behaviour by owners. Stay away!!

I am shocked as to how there are comments under the ‘excellent’ catagorie and can most definitley agree and sympathise with the ‘terrible’ ones!

Lovely little cafe with friendly staff and a warm welcome. Served quickly with a smile. A good selection of sandwiches and cakes available too at reasonable prices. I plan on returning in the near future.

The service was very friendly and pretty quick considering I went in early morning while they were still setting their seats out.

We needed somewhere for a quick snack and a coffee in the centre of Durham and were lucky enough to stumble across this little gem in the Walkergate complex. Our welcome could not have been friendlier, nor the speed and efficiency of the service better. The food is nothing special, but it worked fine for us. No complaints about the coffee either. Don't waste your money with one of the big brand coffee houses, enjoy the warmth and positive ambience of The Coffee Shop instead!

It is a good coffee shop, staff and service seems relatively nice.

Very friendly staff ,clean and a great start to our visit.We returned twice for drinks and snacks .The owner and his wife seemed to know everyone who came in ,great atmosphere can recommend this cafe

Great choice of hot and cold drinks plus the tastiest toasted teacake I have had. Even better that it comes with jam (many flavours to choose from) without any extra charge.

Went to Durham on a day trip and came across The Coffee House. Dropped in for a quick mid morning drink and had the steamed milk flavoured with gingerbread which for me was unusual and tasty. Usual coffees on offer with an array of cakes all reasonably priced. What struck me was the friendliness of the staff, greeting customers and stopping to talk when delivering food and drinks to the table. The place had a community feel and it was obvious that locals use the cafe and are known to the staff. Definitely glad to have visited and wish more places were like that.

Lunch time and events on in durham meant it was very busy today, but as usual service was very friendly, staff were polite and bacon sandwich was again perfect.

One of the best cafes in Durham. Exceptional service from Margaret, Peter and staff. Very clean and good quality food and drinks.

Popped in for a quick bite to eat, bacon sandwich, salted caramel cookie and drink of pop.

This coffee shop really is a mixed bag. I've always loved the hot chocolate but when the coffee shop is busy, it can be watery. The owners are usually friendly but are very preoccupied by who is using their toilet. I've seen people who have sat outside be questioned when they go inside as to whether they were a customer or not, saying they have to pay to use the toilet if not. I'd be most unhappy if I was spoken to in that way and nearly left the queue when I saw it happen to someone else. Definitely not gracious customer service. The selection of sandwiches and cakes are varied, but they only give one small portion of butter with tea cakes and scones and charge if you want more. It seems that they want to charge as much as possible.

I did not enjoy my visit here, I came into the café with a cone of chips and I was very rudely approached and told to leave as chips were not permitted which is fine but I was unhappy the way I was informed. Also my friends and I even though paying for food were forced to leave after we had finished because the seats are apparently for "paying customers". I do understand but no one was waiting for a seat as half the café was empty. The staff were rude and impolite and I felt offended as they only treated me and my peers like this. I think it was because we were under 18 and we in some way do not deserve respect unlike the older citizens within the café.

Always a pleasure to visit the Coffee House. Great drinks & cakes, plus a small selection of sandwiches. Clean, well maintained interior & facilities. Management & staff are without exception welcoming, attentive & accomodating!

Great coffee, friendly staff, welcoming little coffee shop with good prices. Never had any food but looked good. Would definitely go back again 😊

Decided to visit here with my friend. I ordered a cappuccino and my friend bought a bottle of water but she was yelled at by the manager for trying to use the toilet as she was apparently not a customer. After reading other reviews on here, it seems like other people have had similar experiences. And the way that the manager and owner reply to reviews on here is absolutely disgusting! Have you not heard of customer service? You should treat customers with respect as they're the people making you money, not to kick them out for some deluded reason in your head.

Skinny blueberry muffin, triple chocolate muffin with cappuccinos (coffee on the side) absolutely delicious. Served by 2 lovely men who were very welcoming. ☕️

The staff in this small cafe are renouned for their friendly and polite approach towards all of their customers. The coffee is excellent! I love to meet friends here to chat and relax. I will always support this independent business!

I was due to go to the Gala cafe for a business meeting, but it was closed due to a Lumiere conference (well worth the visit, by the way!), so I thought we'd head across the square and try The Coffee House, somewhere I'd not been before.

Excellent food and staff (especially the man who didn't even blink when asked if he takes Scottish money lol). Would thoroughly recommend.

Went here for a spot of lunch. Sandwiches were very nice indeed and reasonably priced. Latte was excellent. Very comfortable and nice atmosphere. Cash only though. Manager directed me to cash point in Millennium place which charges £1.95 per withdrawal! Barclays is no further, but in opposite direction.

It was nice to be able to sit comfortably and people watch. A coffee and a soft drink were served to our table. Easy lounge type chairs and sofas inside boulavard type furniture outside. This place does what it says on the tin as it were.

Nice friendly cafe with inside and outside seating. Nice to watch the world go by. Lovely toasted cheese scones , yoghurt and cranberry tray bake. Newspapers provided

I am visually impaired and have often experienced poor and unhelpful service in cafes and restraurants. NOT HERE!! In the last few years I have been a regular user of the Coffee House and have always found the staff to be very helpful. Peter and Margaret could not have been more accommodating and supportive. They always welcome me, read out the menu, and bring my order to the table as well as being unfailingly friendly. Over the years I have also seen them be very supportive to other people with disabilities, for example helping people in wheelchairs to find a seat and generally having a very caring attitude to regular users. I would definitely recommend this cafe to anyone looking for a friendly place to get a great cup of coffee or tea and a lovely sandwich or cake. It's also in a great location and you can sit outside when the weather allows.

sat 7th feb approx. 2pm. I had a bottle of juice purchased from the shop, my friend didn't have anything. we were both asked to leave by a man aged approx. 50-60 as we weren't ordering anything when I had. won't be going back here, Durham could do without people like that in the city centre

Fairly bland looking from the outside but perfectly functional and were served in a pleasant manner. Nice coffee and bit of cranberry and yoghurt slice and a comfy sofa to relax on for a while. There are plenty of places with more character in Durham, but this one is airy and light and has everything you need for a quick pit-stop.

I have been going to the coffee house, since it opened 6 years ago, I have always found it to be a very friendly atmosphere, the staff are happy to help you anyway they can by moving chairs etc to help accommodate your a larger group. Our by holding doors open for you when struggling with shopping or buggies etc. The staff always have big welcoming smiles, which makes it means alot these days as you go to other places and your made to feel your an inconvenience to them. I am upset after I read some of these reviews as I cant fault the place, they offer a wide range of products and hot and cold drinks, served by a wonderful team of staff. Keep doing what you do best, I think your all amazing there at the coffee house :-)

I called in while waiting to meet friends for lunch. I only ordered an Americano, although I was tempted by the cheese scones on display! I found the staff cheerful and friendly. I noticed that tables were cleaned and cleared promptly. This made it easy to spot a vacant table. One of my pet hates is struggling to find somewhere to sit and then having to clear someone else's dirty plates and leftovers away before I can put my own tray down! I will return to try the scones when in Durham again!

I also can't understand the negative reviews (although am not a laptop user in the cafe so may have missed something). TThis place is absolutely spotless (as are the toilets, unlike so many cafés) and the service is impeccably well-run (ditto). I have always found the staff polite and pleasant (I am female) and they offer really good and good-value filter coffee. I have to say the sandwiches look very dull and uninviting so only ever have cake but I really can't fault it for drinks and cake, and go regularly. As the parent of two young kids I have brought up to behave in public I guess I like a peaceful atmosphere which this owner encourages . Would recommend.

I went for a coffee with some friends and because we didn't all go up and pay when buying food, and the manager came over and asked us to leave, as the seats were only for 'customers', and even when we explained that we had put our money together to pay for the food he insisted that we left and he was very rude and aggressive. Would NOT recommend this coffee shop.

I came in with my friends and we shared some food, however a member of staff asked those who "weren't customers' to leave. We were all sharing which he could obviously see, but insisted we left. Just because we're a group of teenagers doesn't mean we're going to trash the place! Sort your service out man, it's disgraceful!

I love this coffee shop, it's by far the most friendliest and comfortable atmosphere, and the staff are so lovely and always make such a fuss of my daughter every time we visit which makes it even better to be my number one place to visit regularly each week!!

I love nothing better than having a visit several times a week to the Coffee House, it is by far the friendliest, comfortable and relaxing coffee shop for miles. It has a fab selection of sandwiches hot and cold and lots for those with a sweet tooth! All the staff are so friendly and helpful, and always make such a fuss of my little girl each time we visit even when they are very busy they always make time to have a warm smile and make conversation with both me and my daughter. Which ii feel makes each and every visit all the more special! I recommend this coffee shop to all my friends and family!

I have been visiting this coffee house since it opened. I find some of the negative reviews hard to fathom. All the staff are very welcoming especially the owners Peter and Margaret they are very welcoming of families and will organise seating to accommodate them. once they know you the both actively talk to the kids.However like most businesses they do expect parents to keep children under control. I wonder what would be the first thing they would do if an accident happened. I love this coffee house because I love coffee with a personal touch and don't like big franchises and will always support this independent business

Having been to the hospital on Thursday we popped into Durham. We got off the Park & Ride bus and needed a drink so went into The Coffe House. Service was polite and friendly and drinks and a bite to eat were brought to the table. They were enjoyable and the atmosphere in the cafe was relaxing.

I cannot believe some of he inaccurate reviews on here! I have been to this cafe a few times and have always found the staff to be exceptionally attentive and cater for my family and I very we'll. I have children who were made very welcome and we'll looked after (even having a flake and extra marshmallows with their hot chocolates). I have eaten the sandwiches which are fresh and delicious. Defo would recommend this place