The Ox Inn in County Durham

Awful food, Awful service, deadbeat atmosphere. And daylight robbery! they don't include prices on purpose... to make you embarrassed to ask prices, presuming oh it must be cheap...this dingy, grim place...but no! they rip you off at the till!! Gruff staff - mgt lady awful battle-axe, with defensive attitude problem. In the 2.5yrs been visiting, it's got worse and that's saying something.

A large group of us arranged a baby shower for my daughter at the ox ,meals were pre ordered food was brought out in dribs and drabs food was either undercooked or burnt 1 of the group didn't even get there meal staff blamed this on us saying it hadn't been ordered but we had a list of what everyone wanted so that member of the group didn't eat what should of been a celebration turned into a fiasco safe to say we won't be going back to the ox in at stanley

Staff couldn't have been nicer to us. Drinks were priced really well (very cheap by today's standards) Staff were so friendly and made a great fuss of our dog and even provided table service for a bowl of water for the pooch. Thanks for a pleasant evening in the sun. Food wasn't on but that didn't bother us and the menu looked great.

Great atmosphere plus live bands

Great atmosphere and live music!

Chips were lovely the woman behind the bar was lovely nice cheap beer but we were sitting having a beer and chips when people come in vaping so we moved and when staff came to serve us again I asked if vaping was allowed. She sed yes but not for staf then when I sed I wasn't happy about people vaping around my child she then sed the person vaping was in fact the manager. Ok so staf can't do it but the manager can. I won't be back because they don't know one thing from another but it will be under new management soon. as that's what always happens.

Lovely pub had a family area for kids, service was slow but the food made up for it, very clean, very quiet (until we came in) highly recommend

Lovely food and great people took care of us and treated us like royalty thank you.

Good food and atmosphere, dog friendly too

Absolutely diabolical, dry food and waiting for ages . Avoid at all costs .

Waited 1.30 and only managed 2 kids meals, that where overcooked, got 2 rounds of drinks and still no food turned up, came away without eating. bar staff were pleasant but thats it. Very poor.

Last minute decision to eat out. Was made to feel very welcome on arrival. Sunday lunch was lovely and portions very generous, we couldn't finish but enjoyed what we ate. Will be back to try other dishes in the near future.

Sunday lunch today was really really lovely roast beef , large yorkie pud , great veg selection, roasties and mash fab gravy. Louise and staff very friendly and accommodating.

We went for Sunday lunch and it was amazing great portions and probably the best Sunday lunch in the area I definitely recommend and will be back again friendly pub with friendly staff as well

Had an amazing Sunday dinner at The Ox. Trio of meats was amazing. Beef exceptional. Everything cooked to perfection. Great portion size to. Well worth the money. Brilliant pint of lager to.

Called for lunch today wish I hadn't Pastor was over cooked sauce ws tasteless my partner had fish and chips the batter was white and soggy all the food was served just warm won't be back

Fish was under cooked still raw in centre . Has gone downhill in last year.

Me and my family went to this place last week and i couldn't believe how nice the dinner and staff were. It's just a shame you're so far away because i'd be going every week. I'll definitely pop back when i'm in the area it's the best dinner i've ever had it was absolutely beautiful.It beats the Stables just before Whitby about 15 years ago you won't get better thanks.

Nice pint of Madri. Very quiet with only a few punters in, however that was beneficial in order to be able to express concerns during our football meeting, so swings & roundabouts as they say!!

Not much on menu . Pies like puka pies . Bit pricey to

Never had an issue until tonight. Got my food order cancelled and asked to leave for no reason. When asking for justification at the bar, was told "the lady in the polka dots wrote a false review". The lady in question, a 66 year old lady who doesn't have a trip advisor account. The manager then informed me that they had gone on the basis of the username and then tried to find the full name on Facebook via ex employees account to (very wrongly) join some dots. Despite the fact I had very clearly shown that the review must have been created as a malicious act, I was told he can only go off the name on the review and would not hear otherwise. It was utterly embarrassing and to make matters worse, when fellow patrons stuck up for us, they were told to leave as well, while the manager slagged us off to other customers within ear shot. Very unprofessional and most definitely one way to push paying customers out of the doors. Will be contacting Queensway about management.

Dear fellow people looking to go to this place, make yourself scarce COME IN PENSIONERS A NIGHT AND GET BARRED AND PICKED ON BY 20 YEAR OLDS ESPECIALLY JOSH AND LOUISE. I had a couple of drinks with my friends and I was disgusted at the fact that a couple of ladies that got barred for no reason at all. One of the ladies got up and went to the bar, she asked if she could order a couple of drinks and food earlier at her table. The manager (Josh) refused to serve her and said her order has been cancelled and she would not be getting her food. 20 minutes before she went to the bar she was told by the manager that the table she was sitting on is reserved and they forgot to put a reserved sign on it. 10 minutes later someone came in the pub, they were looking around with nowhere to sit, a bar maid took the reserved sign off of the table and said they could sit there so the ladies moved for no reason.

Dreadful service wait for to order far too long and food only mediocre

Normally don't leave reviews but sadly think staff could do with learning some customer service skills. Witnessed management last night asking group of lady's to leave and barring a person when they were sitting trying to order food? Claiming a member of the group had wrote a bad TripAdvisor review why would that person return to the same establishment after leaving a negative review and why would management not try to resolve any issues if this was the case? I work in the restaurant industry and if I had spoken to customers in this way, I would not have a job! Have been to this establishment several times and was shocked to over hear this, not surprised many staff have left. If they are treating customers this way dread to think how they behave with their staff!

Service was pretty slow, we waited about 50 mins for food. I'm not sure if this is a usual wait time but I wouldn't want to wait this long with kids again. Restaurant side wasn't busy but looked like only one person on bar and one person on service. Food was tasty and good portion for price. Also got free kids meals. We had to go find someone to order dessert and main meal dishes weren't cleared away before dessert served. The lady who was at the bar that we paid for our meals with was lovely. Felt a little like we were inconveniencing the other two members of staff. Chef came out to check the meals were good especially the gluten free meal we ordered for my son which was a nice touch.

Lovely food. Will be going again

Visited and was disgusted by the managers attitude and the way he spoke to someone nearby who was simply asking for food.refused to serve them and told them they were barred.They had done nothing wrong! someone else nearby that spoke up about it was also warned that they would be barred too if they didn’t stop. Manager needs to learn some customer service skills and some manners to match. I never write a bad review but I couldn’t believe it.ive spent a lot of money here in the past but will never set foot in there again.such a shame as it used to be a wonderful establishment with lovely food.

Never had an issue until tonight. Got my food order cancelled and asked to leave for no reason. When asking for justification at the bar, was told "the lady in the polka dots wrote a false review". The lady in question, a 66 year old lady who doesn't have a trip advisor account. The manager then informed me that they had gone on the basis of the username and then tried to find the full name on Facebook via ex employees account to (very wrongly) join some dots. Despite the fact I had very clearly shown that the review must have been created as a malicious act, I was told he can only go off the name on the review and would not hear otherwise. It was utterly embarrassing and to make matters worse, when fellow patrons stuck up for us, they were told to leave as well, while the manager slagged us off to other customers within ear shot. Very unprofessional and most definitely one way to push paying customers out of the doors. Will be contacting Queensway about management.

absolutely amazing food with great friendly staff overall relaxed atmosphere great to sit and have a fresh home cooked meal

Terrible service at bar, no order, ignorant bar staff served other people before nxt person 🙄 disgusting manners, horrible atmosphere and smerky smiles

Was hear for Sunday lunch with my partner I had silverside beef and my partner had belly pork they both melted in our mouths we have been hear in pasted and had bad experience, but heard they was a new chef and thought we would give it another go and we are pleased we did we will be back regularly for Sunday lunch... no more cooking for me 😁😁

Came hear today for Sunday lunch with family and it has to be the best dinner I have had in a very long time. Whatever the chef did with his meat and veg is something eles we will definitely be back amd will be spreading the work. Customer service was also fantastic it nice to have table service back too

Been here a few times and the food just keeps getting better. The steak night on a Thursday was immaculate! Brilliant value for money and will definitely be returning!

One young man serving. Other staff sat watching. Even when it was busy.

Visited here with my boyfriend for food and drinks. We had the Beef Cibatta and the Sirloin Steak cooked medium rare with peppercorn sauce. Steak was cooked to perfection and beef in the ciabatta very tender. Both came with proper home cooked chips, NOT frozen ones you find in other places. Service was great from start to finish. Great selection of drinks and great staff. Will definitely be return. This place is a must for food, drinks and a relaxing night

Just had a very lovely meal, starter belly pork first class 👍 steak cook perfect, chips amazing, well done 🍽🍷 definitely be back.

Absolutely fantastic food and service great home cooked food flavour and taste was delicious will definitely be back and will recommend apparently they have new chef if that's correct I hope he stays... amazing

Food has gone back overs after improving over the last few months, no atmosphere very quiet apart from the chef swearing in the background only positive was the waitress was polite professional and helpful

We had booked a table for 7 people for 1pm, we all had a main meal, with 1 kids meal. They had problems with the bar, ended up waiting 15 mins for our drinks. Ordered food at the bar which included burgers, I was asked did we want beef or chicken, my reply, 1 of each. Also need to mention the limited menu and no deviation from it. So by 2.30pm we stoll didn't have our food.... Food came out , we had conversations with waiting staff that one of our party would not eat beef burger so would have chicken... we were told this was possible... brought 2 beef burgers...managers attitude was disgusting.... Beth, waitress, was fabulous and tried to.sort out the order....ended up with person going hungry as no chicken,and refused to cook 1. The chicken was rubbery, fish was slimy and not cooked.... honestly worst experience ever! I will never go back!!! And to top it off ,Mothers day which was a free dessert for.mams wasn' teven mentioned, Mothers day ruined!

Lovely starters and Sunday roast, dessert was okay

Not bad, but I've had better elsewhere.

We have been to the Ox on a number of occasions and I must admit the service and Sunday dinners were fantastic. We went again last week, the service was diabolical, I had to go and ask for my drinks after 15 minutes wait and the waitress had forgotten them, we were sat with couples around us who had obviously been waiting for their food for some time i.e. we waited 30 minutes and we were last waiting. On asking the waitress food started to come out willy nilly to all 3 tables. The food was cold and the meat was processed, we left most and disappointingly left. Please sort this out you had great meals and service not less than a month ago.

Lovely pub. Friendly staff. New chef. Came out to speak to customers for feedback. I had fish and chips. Cooked perfectly. Nice size portion.. partner had steak and ale pie. Said it was fab. Will certainly recommend and will definitely return. We'll done.

Just had the worst meal ever . Ordered hunters chicken. I was served a chicken thigh , which was so rubbery I couldn’t eat .Chips were re done to nearly burnt . Not a one for complaining but I would be ashamed to serve that to anyone.

I come in a lot; especially after work for a pint as I live along the road. I've had dinner for myself and my fiancé plenty of times and we occasionally bring the kids and I've never had any problems at all. The odd time there might be a mistake but is always dealt with, with no problems. I've seen a lot of amenosity reviews and can't understand why. I'd say always try once and you won't be disappointed, great valued food, but I come for the madri most!

Great pub, excellent atmosphere. Staff are so friendly. Can't say how highly I rate this place. Will be back again and again

Disgusted with the attitude on the staff, terrible communication between the staff and customers. We had to wait 2 and a half hours just for out food not to be cooked. No prices on menu but In decency of the manager she reduced our bill.

We have been on a number of occasions over the years, and the food, service & whole atmosphere has been fantastic until today. Whilst advised we would need to book a table, the customer service was shocking and extremely slow despite it not being busy at all for a Sunday afternoon. We waited over an hour for our mains, and when prompting the waitress because family members had travelled up to visit this weekend, she was very rude and ignored us. Once the food has arrived, it was lukewarm but just eatable because we had waited so long, except the pigs in blankets which we were told, all their food is probed… (see below). Such a shame and poor experience, we will definitely not be returning.

Excellent for food and drink. I can’t speak highly enough about this pub. Great atmosphere and lovely staff

Went for tea with my 4 year old daughter the menu was small and wasn’t the best went to the bar to ask if they had a kids menu as was none on the table was rudely told no so went elsewhere. What pub doesn’t do a kids menu or even offer a smaller portion of a meal for a child?

What can l say. The ambience on entering the establishment was fantastic Staff were respectful and polite, nothing was any both to them Meals were excellent and reasonably priced and of a high standard Yes definitely will be going back again

Five of us came for food Wednesday night. The food was beautiful, service was great, all the staff very friendly and courteous. We were having such a pleasant time we ended up staying for the quiz. Very well ran with a good range of questions for all abilities and a right good laugh. Great night was had by all and we won't hesitate to return or recommend. Thankyou

As a group of 4 looking for a lovely meal and drinks we were highly satisfied by the customer service of the waiter/bar staff (i’m sorry we don’t know ur name but you were amazing!). The food was wonderful and the range of drinks and drink promotions (2 4 1 cocktails) were great. Would definitely recommend and come back again🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

Great local, very friendly and welcoming staff always happy to help! Food and drink is brilliant 🤩

Always a friendly welcome and a great laid back atmosphere, staff are great. All you could want from a local traditional pub!

Great pub, food is delicious and service fast and friendly

Very helpful and welcoming staff, tasty food and great portion sizes, had the dirty fries and felt stuffed after, will definitely go again!

Sunday lunch disgraceful had to wait 35 mins for rsweet hence cancelleditand the pub wasn't busy wouldn't recommend it I live not far away but the compsny who own it needs a good call.. one of the bar staff had to go in kitchen to cook

We have been going to this lovely pub for years usually on sat nights for a meal drinks and to watch the bands, but not been for around 12 month. Hadnt realised it had changed hands and is now a blackrose pub.The menu is like a weatherspoons now very generic and not much i liked to choose from. Food was just ok atmosphere still nice but it was the lovely food we really went for so wont be back.

Wait 40 minutes for our meal hardly anyone in all the meals was disgusting turkey was mush stuffing burned chips was recooked with the gammon you got double egg you got 1 the dinners was that dry had to get more gravy DEFINITELY NEVER GOING FOR FOOD AGAIN DISGUSTING

Called for Sunday lunch 😋 was excellent good portions and cooked really well will defo be back

Bar staff rude (young guy) 2 weeks prior to this food was appalling, took nearly 2hours to be served, then one meal was completely un-eatable, fish was so thin, and tough,

Unhappy with the service. Just been in, waited 10 mins to be seated and then sat for another 30 minutes without being offered a drink or our food ordered. Not 1 staff member came over to see if we were even ready. Got up and walked out. Not even busy, must of been about 4 tables there 2 with food already. 1 other and then me. With a handful around the bar seating. Won’t be going back for a while. Massively downhill

Nice experience and friendly staff, the food was lovely and reasonably priced, however, the kitchen close early evening and the menu was fairly short.

Update: Aug'23 Now owned by Blackrose Pub Chain. Staff are, as ever, absolutely lovely but food remains something of a disappointment. Menu appears, at first glance, to offer a great choice but is actually very limited. Careless presentation made it difficult to be overwhelmed by our meals and to be honest it lived up to its billing - mass produced, cheap ingredients requiring little more than heating, putting together and serving. We used to rate this pub really highly but sadly its longer somewhere worth going out of our way for. 😕 Update: 30 Jun '22 Sad to say The Ox appears to have gone downhill significantly. Very limited starter choices (nachos, potato skins or prawn cocktail), with previously extensive mains menu also much reduced. We chose rump steak (rare) which came out significantly overcooked. It was returned but replacements also overcooked, although slightly better, but very anaemic with no sear on the outside. Waitress was lovely but very little she can do when food is not good. At least the dogs got a tasty treat from it 😆 Original review Another very nice meal, this time Steak & Stout pie, with chips, peas and gravy. Tender steak, great pastry (not just a lid but a proper pie!) and best of all a gravy boat full of gravy, complete with meaty bits!!

Food was OK, nothing special However pub is now looking extremely tired and run down, seat next to me covered in filthy stains

A long time customer, shocked at how quickly it went down hill. It had been approx a month since I had been in. I've been going for years. Sometimes twice a month. The menu completely changed. We went in for a mid week roast dinner. They no longer do them. The problem is that it's now a generic menu, but there are a lot of items that are sharing plates. We only found a few things we would like. Service was still good but they were complaining about the internet being off. When we got the food it had changed from a home made style to a Wetherpoons style generic type. They didn't even do real cheese on the burgers. It was like a cheese sauce that made the burger overly runny. The food didn't impress me. When I went to pay they said the card machine didn't work due to the internet being down. So I was lucky to have cash. I asked for a receipt and they couldn't give me one due to the internet being down. They knew about the problem before the meal and did nothing about it. After waiting 5 mins with them being on the phone to head office I gave up and left. It wasn't very good service at this point. There are also no disabled spots now for parking.

We have visited the ox inn for many years now and it's really going down hill very pricey for very little portions and not the best quality of food either and the amount of people allowed to smoke vapes in there and with members of staff at the same table is absolutely shocking it was extremely bad while we are in last all you could see when looking around was people vaping it was absolutely disgusting never again will not recommend to anyone anymore

I've visited the ox inn for many years now but now it's very over priced for very little portions and the amount of people that are allowed to sit and smoke vapes in there with staff at the same table is absolutely shocking will not be visiting again will not be recommended to anyone anymore

I have to say it was a lovely place to eat and meet up with family.Great service amazing food .Very good value for money.Very friendly staff.Would definitely recommend people to eat there.

Absolutely gorgeous staff fresh faced and polite and hospitable with a lovely atmosphere to a fault couldnt possibly ask for a better service. Gina absolutely gorgeous food (chef) I recommend the pulled pork bao buns with Gina's special sauce tell her tasha sent you. Sam new landlady colourful warm and welcoming and makes a fantastic cocktail. Interacts with her patrons and shows serious potential in the community owning such a well known establishment. Compliments and all the future custom to the staff and fantastic sign artist layla who was commissioned and met today who was lovely. I have posted on facebook and to all my friends. 100% reccomend. Thanks for having us. We will be back..... x

The food was speedy and delicious, amazing starter and we loved the customisable burger menu. Highly recomend. the the staff are lovely and very attentive. The prices were also good value. We will definitely book again. 👍

Went for Sunday lunch. No gammon owing to delivery. Got a small lunch . My partner asked for toasties only instead of mash They came hardly roasted at all as well as mine . Ordered sweet had to wait 25 minutes still nothing paid and cancelled sweet. Would I go back never wouldn't recommend either

Popped in for tea. Two all day breakfasts and a steak and ale pie. Three clean plates. Absolutely lovely. Enjoyed afters as well. We’ll be back soon

Top flight return of the bands to Ox, what an opening show you put on, all of the staff dressed up in 80s theme and you all looked amazing, it’s good to see a fresh, new, happy team working so hard together to give great service & it was very busy . 10 out of 10 from me, Kimberley, Kelly and Cathryn & all of the staff you were awesome Thankyou !!!

Booked for Sunday lunch, great choices, couldn’t decide so went for Sunday trio, with all trimmings, food was excellent and generous portions, staff were friendly, highly recommend!

Attended the Peter Beardsley evening - it was brilliant, atmosphere was perfect, foods was to die for (homemade chips ☺️) and staff were brilliant - can’t wait for the next event

Been for dinner amazing food and lovely staff can't recommend enough will be back

Sadly a pub that was great, is now going down hill, the pub was known for live bands, now just cheap food, the owner should look at all the bad stories of the pubs sad demise, re estate weekend bands before you lose all custom.

We went for Sunday Lunch. Firstly we had to sit with coats on as it was so cold. Took an age for someone to come and take our orders, 3 Sunday lunches and a chicken nuggets and chips. Once they finally arrived we then had to wait 10 minutes for some cutlery to be brought over. The dinner was mediocre at best. It was cold, couldn’t cut the beef never mind chew it as it was so thick. The chicken nuggets were freezing and inedible. We then had to go to the bar to ask for someone to clear the plates and take a dessert order. Nobody checked back. All in all a terrible service and very disappointed

Just been for tea got fish n chips the fish batter was so full of grease I couldn’t eat it, and was obviously fish from a box. I was offered a free dessert but declined as I felt a bit sick

Ordered Southern Fried Chicken Burger which according to the menu came with fried onions and mushrooms when it arrived there were no mushrooms nor onions , when questioned with the waitress she went to check and advised not the normal chef and he was using a different menu to the one on the table so I wasn't getting the meal I ordered. Other item item ordered was Steak and ale pie with seasonal vegetable with mash. It arrived with a pie , mash and a plate of peas and a jug of gravy. When questioned the waitress advised only vegetable they have, as should have really closed at 5pm 28.01.23 Disappointed to say the least regarding the meal however the waitress was apologetic and polite regarding the issue and was doing the best she could. We were offered another drink on the house , however we declined this as we were not drinking so the 2 cokes we did have were given to us free of charge.. Although a nice gesture it did not alleviate the disappointment in the meal we had . Will think twice about returning in the future despite visiting the ox Inn quite a number if times in the past.

Book table for 1 o'clock didnt get show to table had get our own drinks sit till 1.30 before taken our order would still sitting there if my boyfriend didn't say something other people come after us get show to table get drinks and meals...

Been for food tonight with my 3 children and it was delicious as usual. The atmosphere was relaxed,cosy and the staff are so friendly. The new menu looks amazing, classic pub food with great additions. I would highly recommend the Ceaser Salad with grilled chicken!...

Visited Monday evenings and what a beautiful meal and service I received. I booked a table in advance, we were acknowledged promptly on arrival and served almost immediately by a very pleasant young lady. Food was really enjoyable, I got chicken tikka curry was beautiful....

Lovely place, very friendly & helpful staff. Had a lovely Sunday lunch, had the beef , it was lovely & tender with lots of gravy & a nice big Yorkshire pudding.

having been here for last two sundays have to say they do a brilliant sunday lunch..good service..excellent value..and spacious restaurant.

Haven't been in awhile but won't be returning! Not a warm welcome. When asked was told food wouldn't take long but took 40 minutes. A couple of people came in after us and had their food before us. The pub was cold and the food was just OK.

I had travelled 131 miles from Yorkshire to meet a colleague to do some work in the area. This pub was recommended by the staff at the workplace we were visiting. Lovely welcome from Chloe. We ordered Chilli and I had steak sandwich with THE...

We called in for an unplanned lunch visit having been on the C2C route. Upon entering we were welcomed very warmly by the staff. We chose a table and shortly after were waited on for our order. I love that you can order drinks from...

Despite the excellent customer service as always , no horseradish sauce available @ 14.45. Disappointed that there was only 1 small roast potato on the plate compared with a large portion of mash potato, but requested 2 more and delivered straight away. The Ox is...

First time visit today. Staff very accommodating (I use wheelchair). Service was first class and food was lovely. Only 'minus' was the inability to get my wheelchair into the ladies toilet.

Nice from the outside totally different story on the inside,no heating on,food was just ok nothing special for the price first time we have been won't be going back desperately needs a good refurb

Popped in for a pint and something to eat. Ordered the Mixed Grill. Superb!!! Best ever. Great helpful staff too. Definatley going back when im up from London next!!

The Ox has been my local for years and it really struggled through the Pandemic. I'm pleased to say that it's back to it's original amazing standards. Bands on at the weekend and great value food and drinks. The staff are all outstanding and cannot...

Myself and immediate/extended family members have visited this pub many, many times for the food side of the business., which was always beautifully cooked and tasty. We went the other day for a meal and the standard has really slipped. There was little sauce and...

Visited tonight family of 12 booked last minute and was able to fit us all in. Absolutely beautiful meal all round and excellent value for money. Young one serving us at the table was lovely and very pleasant whilst we were let down by the...

Even though we have visited this establishment often for nights out I must say that our last visit was not so great some of the staff were not up to par the food was nothing special half the selection on the menu they didn't have,...

Great food good value for money

Foods ok, portions have become smaller, some of the staff just walk about doing nothing trying to look busy, never enough serving at the bar, used to be 5 star, good pint and top entertainment on the weekends