September 2024 by Mehmeh Mehneh
Thank you Saxon Inn for a lovely stay. Bit of a hidden treasure this one.. clean, spacious and comfortable room, friendly staff, and impressive pub food for a very reasonable price. So glad I booked in!
Rooms: Very comfy bed, decent shower, quiet at night. I was pleased to see a small writing desk as I had some work to do on a laptop and there was just enough room for it.
Walkability: This pub is ideal for walkers as the Weardale Way passes by the bottom of the village and the Inn can be reached within about 5 minutes from the path, although note there is minimal signage to it.
Food and drinks: Food was great! Traditional pub menu with added bonus of stone baked pizza. Coming from a big city, I couldn't believe how reasonably priced it was. Special mention for the cooked breakfast here which was a bit of a treat too.
Bit of a shame that there weren't any cask ales in the bar, but there was a GK IPA and a stout from the keg. The bar itself has a pool table but is otherwise quite small. It was lively with the local drinkers - entirely to be expected on a Friday night - but there is a large restaurant area and some sofa seating at the back if you prefer things quieter.
Noteworthy details: Although the Inn is nestled in amongst more modern housing, England's oldest 'and most complete' Saxon church is just across the road.
September 2024 by Carolyn Brocklesby
Food and drinks: We live local and decided to try the inn for a meal with our Grandson. The car park was too small and full so we had to park elsewhere. The decor inside was shabby looking for a traditional old inn and the dining area looked like a school canteen. We asked for the lounge area and ordered our food.
The food was ok but the presentation could have been better and the food warmer, also there were no peas or salad to compliment the food.
Half way through our meal a group of loud foul mouthed ?? came in and sat near us, they were staff that worked there on their day off and were drunk, but the obscene foul language was disgusting and the staff working never stopped them. These people are representing your business and to behave like that in front of paying customers and children was unacceptable.Ifvtgey were working for me they would now be out of a job.
The village looks nice and the little church is lovely but this place spoils it.
September 2024 by Micheal Meredith
Lovely place lovely staff, service brilliant.
The full breakfast is amazing you get to pick rather than a set breakfast and the evening meal is also nice. Thanks for a lovely stay see
September 2024 by Anthony Hibbs
We enjoyed a lovely two nights at the Saxon Inn whilst visiting Auckland Palace and attending the nearby Kynren. The location is perfect, in a quiet residential area next to a wonderful Saxon church. There is an adequate car park.
Kynren is less than 10 minutes drive, Bishop Auckland the same.
Our room , no4,was well equipped, clean and quiet despite being on a corner by the road and above the outdoor seating area.
Food was well priced, none of that service charge here, generously portioned and a varied menu. We ate here both evenings.
You order breakfast from a tick sheet which you hand in each evening, everything is cooked to order and delivered to your table. No queuing and getting up from your table.
Plenty of tea/coffee and toast also brought to the table.
Everything was delicious.
Staff are very hardworking and friendly.
Everywhere is clean and well presented.
At just £100 a night, in a King size bedded room with a seating area and bath/ shower, for bed and breakfast it felt very good value as they could so easily have increased prices during Kynren as it seemed every other guest was attending.
Absolutely recommended.
September 2024 by Cheryl Hudson
I didn't stay in a room, we had a gathering of friends for a meal. The steak was nice and cooked as requested, what let this meal down was the onion ring which, when cut up looked like it had been fossilised. It had obviously been overcooked and the batter was burned, i suspect it had been cooked then warmed up for my order. The grilled tomato halves did not come with my steak as stated on the menu, I had to ask for them.
July 2024 by Jill Jennings
I was travelling with my mum, and we immediately felt at ease, in this warm and friendly Inn , We were well looked after, and rooms a really nice size &. very comfortable and clean. The food is decent, and a real bonus that there's parking, and also a bit of historical interest with the Anglo-Saxon church opposite which is well worth a visit. Thanks to all the lovely staff at the Saxon Inn.
June 2024 by Durham Telly
I have just visited, a Bacon Cheese Smash Burger with onion rings and mushrooms and chips with an excellent pint of Coors lager. The chips are home made, the burger was just correct, served in a brioche bun, with a genuine tasty portion of bacon, beautiful cheese, there was not a drop of grease on the entire plate. My only gripe is that the staff were not as attentive, as I wished, but I'm the sort that wants an instant response, the young man was much more relaxed than me. The Saxon Inn is now a contemporary environment a mix of old and current age, I will revisit as it is only a couple of miles from my current home, as you'll notice from the collage my plate was clean at the end of the meal.
Nearby activities: The Saxon church of Escomb is a world renowned Anglo Saxon Church, the oldest such church in the UK. It is well worth a visit, it is directly opposite the Saxon Inn.
June 2024 by Duncan Harrison
We both had an excellent stay. Clean rooms, comfortable bed and friendly staff. The breakfast was excellent too.
June 2024 by Alex Hamilton
We are staying local in Toft Hill and popped in today for lunch - make sure you stop here if you?re in the area. Service first class and friendly. Food awesome - chips - home cooked like your mum used to make, not your normal frozen chips!! All home cooked food. Highly recommended
June 2024 by Julian Rangeley
Friendly staff and great selection of food
June 2024 by Kathleen Eltis
Lovely day (wedding) good service and food.
Food & drinks: Good
Noteworthy details: Lovely setting.
June 2024 by Alan Sabatino
We stopped here as a rest stop for our journey to Scotland and it was perfect. The staff were very friendly upon arrival, giving us info on things going on at the Inn as well as local walks around the area. The room was very clean and tidy and the food was great. We would definitely stay here again!
May 2024 by Person A
Great little pub with friendly service and a lovely view of the church. Pool table and darts. Didn?t try the food but will do next time as I?m coming back. Little piece of heaven in God?s own country
May 2024 by Dipps 251
Friendly place with lovely rooms
April 2024 by Jay ML
Fantastic experience here, my son struggles quite significantly with being unable to relax and concentrate he really finds life quite hard sometimes and we managed to have a full lunch meal with smiles and confidence and he actually managed to sit still for longer than usual.
He found the fish tank quite amazing and it worked really well with the sensory side of things.
Claire the owner was really supportive and didn?t bat an eye lid at him not being able to sit still and it was really nice.
Claire made it really comfortable for us to be there without worrying about any judgment or my son upsetting anyone or disturbing the atmosphere.
It?s a fantastic restaurant and bar.
So much love and all the locals are absolutely fantastic your always made to feel so welcome.
Can?t recommend a better place to be honest.
