The Royal Oak
Location: 1 Commercial Street, Cornsay Colliery, Lanchester, gb
Star Rating: 9.1 Stars
Property Type: Inns
About this Property
Charming Family-Run Hotel Near Historic Durham
Traditional Restaurant and Cozy Bar
Indulge in classic home-cooked meals at the pub restaurant or savor light snacks and local ales in the bar. Enjoy entertainment with the games area featuring darts and a pool table.
Scenic Views and Modern Comfort
Relax in rooms with iPod docking stations, TVs, and tea/coffee facilities. Admire the picturesque County Durham countryside from your window. The bathrooms are equipped with hairdryers for your convenience.
Convenient Location and Nearby Attractions
Benefit from free Wi-Fi and private parking during your stay. Explore the vibrant cities of Newcastle and Gateshead within a short drive, or venture to the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Park within an hour.
Book now to experience the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and countryside charm at The Royal Oak Hotel.
Policies
Check-in: 03:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Amenities & Facilities
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Terrace
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- BBQ facilities
- Luggage storage
- Safety deposit box
- Fax/photocopying
- Packed lunches
- Board games/puzzles
- Kids' outdoor play equipment
- Outdoor furniture
- Free wired internet
- Playground on site
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Internet access
- Private picnics
- Reception hall
- Japanese garden
- Fishing nearby
- Horse riding nearby
- Snow sports gear
- Bicycle-friendly property
Rooms Available
-
Standard Suite, Ensuite
1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds
Layout - Bedroom
Relax - Fireplace
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - Digital channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker
Bathroom - Private bathroom and a hair dryer
Practical - Safe, iron/ironing board, and desk
Need to Know - No housekeeping, towels not available, bed sheets not available, no cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Safety deposit box
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Fireplace
- Free WiFi
- No rollaway/extra beds
- No cribs (infant beds)
- No housekeeping
- Towels not available
- Bed sheets not available
-
Double Room - Annex
The double room offers a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, as well as a private bathroom boasting a shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, heating, as well as a TV. The unit has 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Radio
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Alarm clock
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
-
Double or Twin Room
This room with attached bathroom features a TV, an iPod docking station, a desk and tea/coffee making facilities.
Free Wi-Fi is available.
Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Radio
- Desk
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Alarm clock
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
-
Family Room
This room with attached bathroom features a TV, an iPod docking station, a desk and tea/coffee making facilities.
Free Wi-Fi is available.
Max Occupancy: 5 (4 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Radio
- Desk
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Alarm clock
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
-
Twin Room
This room with attached bathroom features a TV, an iPod docking station, a desk and tea/coffee making facilities.
Free Wi-Fi is available.
Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Radio
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Alarm clock
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
Guest Reviews
- paul (10/5): -
- steven (10/5): - My brother and I were visiting Beamish Museum.
The Royal Oak ticked all the boxes for us and we will be staying there again.
Sonia, the owner, makes the food and it is exceptional!!
Couldn't fault it. We only stayed 2 nights so didn't get to work our way through the delicious menu.
- Bruce (10/5): Fantastic for a Sunday Afternoon and stay the night - Very friendly staff and customers, location was great, fantastic breakfast I would stay here again anytime Wish I got there a lot earlier to enjoy more time in the bar
- Maureen (10/5): A lovely friendly cottage pub, in a lovely location friendly staff who could not do enough for you - Everything Nothing
- Kathy (9/5): Great value stay in a really welcoming old pub - Friendliness and welcome from the staff, willing to change rooms to find a dog friendly ground floor room, great in room facilities including tea and coffee, fridge and microwave - would be good for longer stays too, brilliant being offered kippers for breakfast, beautiful forest walk just across the road perfect for the dogs and soem really interestign history Breakfast could have had a little more choice with some nicer bread and coffee was a little weak but neither of these points are important
- Alex (10/5): We had a great stay staff and owners wee so friendly nothing was any problem to them .. food was great rooms were spotle - Very clean and homely There was not anything I didn’t like
- Heather (8/5): Very pleasant especially the ceiling - The staff No tissue in the room
- Bernadette (6/5): Okay for one night. - Location was within a 15min drive to our destination. The staff were lovely and helpful. Though no evening meals, we were able, had we wished, to phone for a Take away. My room was clean. Fairly basic accommodation, it was a pub afterall. The ensuite did have a musky aroma, the rim of the shower could do with a clean, otherwise okay.
The pillows, were uncomfortable for sleeping on.
- Penny (10/5): The food and the room were just what we wanted for our short stay - It was a lovely friendly place to stay for a couple of nights while we visited Hadrians wall and Tasha my dog was made to feel very welcome There was nothing that I did not like
- Gary (10/5): - The room was great, the beds were very comfortable. We had dinner on our first evening and it was excellent as was the full English breakfast each morning. The staff were very friendly and helpful. And the price was very reasonable, I couldn't be more happier with our stay
- LAURA (10/5): Good accommodation at great price - Great value for money and really friendly staff.
- Raymond (9/5): WARM FRIENDLY WELCOME FOR A SHORT GOOD VALUE BR EAK✔✔✔✔✔ - Breakfast was well cooked and more than enough for even the biggest appetite !!
The bar area was filled with lots of interesting nick knacks, which I suspect were a personal collection, and made interesting viewing xx
Two separate fish tanks also added to the relaxed atmosphere and the ceiling, also adorned with even more decoration yjr whole effect was that every time you Looked around you noticed something new.
Our evening meal, like breakfast, was again a very generous portion to say the least! Hubby opted for the mixed grill. He doesn't eat onion rings so asked for them to be left off and was surprised when his meal arrived he had been given a second piece steak. There was so much on his plate meat wise he had to leave most of his chips lol
For the reasonable prices charged and portion sizes made it even better value for money. Well done team xx
Nothing was too much trouble and certainly no complaints from us. As I had been taken there for my Birthday I even gave the Landlady one off my roses to say Thank You for most enjoyable stay. Will definitely be back in the summer👍😊 Absolutely nothing!
- The Jopson Adventures (7/5): Overnight last minute stay - Staff were extremely friendly Slight musky tired place but people made us very welcome
- Kevin (10/5): - Lovely friendly staff, good selection of drinks and food. N/A
- SINGLETON (9/5): - Staff very nice and friendly... Price very fare and breakfast lovely.
- Gill (7/5): Amazing couldn’t fault it - The cooked breakfast was amazing. The staff were friendly. Having parking was a massive bonus.
- Joshua (7/5): -
- Karl (10/5): - The breakfast
- Lynne (8/5): Good value and comfortable - Good value and comfortable The curfew on being back
- David (10/5): My family met us on the evening for a meal, food fantastic, the pub friendly and homely. Breakfast superb. - Arrived late afternoon following a family funeral, the staff and the locals made you feel welcome straight away. The stairs being disabled I struggled with them. But set my stall out so I only had to go back upstairs at bed time.
- eddah (6/5): Thank you - The bed was very clean The shower was not good
- Darren (9/5): -
- Jonathan AG Hall (9/5): - Great washroom/shower. Comfy beds. Good evening meal and pickup instead of breakfast staff pleasant and helpful. Tatty corridors.
- Taylor (10/5): - Great steak and kidney pudding 🍮
- Valerie (9/5): Lovely friendly place to stay - Room very clean with excellent facilities
Staff very friendly, kind and efficient
Breakfast very tasty. Lots of choice, special dietary requirements accommodated.
Lovely stay Bed a little on the soft side
- Keith (9/5): - Breakfast was good. Very clean and comfy room
- Lucy (7/5): Good value for location - Good location for Durham and good price. Bathroom clean and shower nice and hot. Tea and coffee in room and bottles of water appreciated. On road parking but right outside. And ate evening meal at pub - spot on for value and taste! Pillows too soft for me but that’s personal choice and music went on downstairs til 12:30am which was later than I expected. Breakfast was generally good with nice beans and black pudding but bread for toast past its best but think this was honest mistake serving it.
- Sarah (10/5): It was located perfectly for our visit to Durham University. It was comfortable, great food and very attentive host and - Location, food, host Nothing
- Andy C (9/5): Relaxing - The room was roomy and clean. The staff were welcoming and friendly. I was staying just the Friday night and although my room was above the bar area it was quiet. The pub doesn't look much from outside, but was nice inside. My evening meal was very good and good value. I was surprised they had only the one real beer available. Although the evening meal was really good, the cooked breakfast was disappointing. Parking is a free for all along the street with the neighbours.
- martin (10/5): -
- Toni (10/5): Fantastic find. We will definitely be returning!! - Loved our stay here. Rooms fantastic, dogs welcomed. Great staff and excellent food. What more could you wish for!
- Stephen (10/5): -
- Colin (10/5): Pleasant surprise. - Friendly and welcoming staff, room clean and fresh, food excellent Only on street parking, but it wasn't a problem.
- Wilkes (10/5): really friendly helpful and welcoming - room was good size plenty of towels and space bed was comfortable and warm breakfast was served really nicely and the host was welcoming helpful and funny can’t think of anything that i didn’t like
- Wilmans (8/5): -
- K (10/5): -
- Steve (10/5): Excellent - Great staff, excellent room, brilliant food.
- Clive (8/5): Food, welcome, helpfulness and value could hardly be better. - Great and varied selection of cereals, juices etc, nicely cooked breakfast, served with a smile.
- Michael (8/5): Visiting family close by - comfortable stay - nice staff - Did not eat Everything was fine
- Upfield (9/5): Great for an overnighter. - Everything needed for a one night stay was in the room. Good WiFi, shower,proper bath towels,tea and coffee. Food in the bar was decent and breakfast in the price was a bonus. Nothing that wouldn't be churlish for the price paid.
- Owen (10/5): Exceptionally dog friendly and welcoming pub, good food, comfortable bed, country walks on doorstep - Exceptionally dog friendly and welcoming pub, good food, comfortable bed, woodland and country walks right opposite. Heavy snow while we were there so real winter wonderland and saw deer in the forest nearby.
- Christine (8/5): Extremely relaxing. Welcoming and helpful staff. Great food - Loved the beams, antiques and horse brasses. Bedroom and en-suite very clean and comfortable On previous stay the log burner was on, missed it this time
- Derrick (9/5): -
- Laura (10/5): - The loction By the staff are really friendly. Breakfast. Just brilliant 9
- Damien (10/5): -
- Clare (9/5): Great spot to stay . Warm ,friendly and very clean. Also great pub food. - Excellent stop over on our way to St Andrews. Staff were lovely, rooms were spotless and very comfortable. We also ate an evening meal which was delicious. All home made. Breakfast in morning was great too. We had a fog with us and there is also a lovely walk right opposite to stretch those legs. Nothing, all good.
- Harriet (9/5): Lovely friendly hotel with attractive comfortable rooms at great value. - Lovely friendly small hotel near Durham. Very comfortable. Attractive rooms. Good breakfast. Good value. Would like to try obviously popular restaurant for evening meal another time.
- Jane (7/5): A basic contractors bed and breakfast - The very friendly staff, tasty breakfast, good toast
Location great for visiting family
Tea and coffee in room and free bottled water Tired mattress, hairs in shower, so much dust on the fan, grubby toilet brush.
Very itchy towels
- chris (9/5): Very friendly and welcoming - Very good also a good choice Bed was very uncomfortable needs updating
- Naomi (8/5): -
- Tindle (10/5): Definitely the best hotel I've stayed at - Absolutely brilliant place to stay, room was extremely clean and spacious, breakfast was top notch and the owners and other staff were really nice
- brian (9/5): I would definitely go there again - The staff were all really friendly and helpful and the food was very good,both breakfast and evening meal.
- Stephen (1/5): Will never use Booking.com again 😒 - Couldn't get into hotel. Was locked up when we arrived at 2pm, no one around. The fact that we couldn't check into the shit hole, and still got charged for late cancellation, even though no one was there to let us in!!
- David (10/5): - It was a lovely friendly pub the staff and locals were exceptionally welcoming.
We used it as a base to explore the north east Nothing
- stuart (9/5): -
- Timothy (10/5): Lovely room, really good food and excellent staff. - Excellent and very well priced accommodation. The staff were all caring and professional. The room was very clean and the bed was comfortable. The breakfast was excellent. I had an evening meal and that too was very tasty and well presented. Nothing!
- Graham (10/5): Bloody brilliant - The place was so clean but it was the owners and staff that made it so great. The locals were also welcoming and this was a proper pub. Sonja was so kind and made me apple crumble just because she heard I wanted some even though it wasn’t on the menu. The price of the room, the food and drinks were fantastic
- Peter (8/5): Convenient great value - Location, price, friendly staff, good food. All good
- Emma (10/5): Very comfortable stay. - Nice laid back atmosphere. Bed was large and comfortable. Everywhere was clean and room well equipped. Room nice and warm.
Food menu extensive and delicious plentiful breakfast.
I would be very happy to stay here again.
- Daniel (8/5): - Super friendly staff, nice atmosphere, clean big room. Very uncomfortable bed mattress, might need upgrading for new one.
- Gordon (7/5): -
- middleton (8/5): -
- Michael (9/5): Night out in Durham - Good size room, comfy bed and plenty of plugs for charging phones. Shower excellent. Nice pub downstairs that serves excellent beers and very good pub grub at reasonable prices.I was out early in morning so landlady made me a packed lunch up which was very nice. All good
- peter (10/5): - Clean comfortable accommodation Friendly helpful owner
Good breakfast
Had everything I needed No negatives Recommended Nothing
- Ben (10/5): -
- Howard (9/5): -
- Aaron (10/5): Epic spot in the countryside - Everything. The burger was awesome! Price, location and hosts where brilliant! There wasn't anything.
- Tristan (10/5): - Great great great
- paul (10/5): - Great crac at the bar. Food was great. Shower superb. A hidden gem this place
- Bartolomeo (9/5): -
- Tristan (10/5): - Absolute value for money. Very clean. Very comfortable. Staff were great. Food is unreal. Food was fantastic and very clean big rooms
- Alan (8/5): - The room was very large, clean and had everything I needed. Breakfast was spot on. Staff very friendly. The double bed is two linked singles and I rolled into the middle quite a bit, possibly because they are worn or just need rotating.
- Monique (10/5): - Comfortable stay, great food and great company! -The Texans
- Warburton (9/5): Struggling to fault. Exceptional value for money - underpriced in my opinion - I stayed at the Royal Oak Inn for one night with my dog. I didn't expect much from reading previous reviews. But I was delighted by my stay. Struggling to fault it - clean, comfy bed, little noise, friendly staff, lots of little extras (e.g. water, soaps) that were a lovely touch. Such great value for money. Breakfast was included in the stay but I being gluten free I didn't expect to be catered for. However when checking in I was asked if I had any dietary requirements for the breakfast. If I had to be picky only a few things come to mind when trying to fault The Royal Oak Inn. One would be parking - the listing described it as having ample free parking however this was on street but we did not struggle to find a space nearby. The door leading downstairs and out of the property is alarmed between 11pm and 8am so something to keep in mind if you're traveling with a dog like I was.
- William (8/5): -
- Nigel (10/5): -
- Chris (10/5): Would highly recommend and will stay again. - Friendly owners. Excellent breakfast and extensive evening meals menu. Excellent value for money and well cooked food. It's an old building so shows signs of wear. This is only what you would expect.
- Monique (10/5): - Food was excellent, hosts were amazing and welcoming.
- Wendy (8/5): One night stay with family. - One night stay, very comfortable and clean room. Kitchen was closed on evening of our stay but we were able to order in food. Nice breakfast.
- Mansell (9/5): - Friendly staff. Very good value. Location was not on my route.
- Peter (10/5): Wonderful location and fantastic food - Fantastic food and staff Nothing
- william (10/5): A lovely village pub with very good facilities. - Very clean and comfortable room. Lovely en suite, comfortable bed.
A traditional village pub with real ale and friendly staff. The evening meal was good value with plenty to choose from.
Breakfast was good and just what we wanted. All good
- Morag (10/5): - Friendly welcome & fab food. Nice quiet room at the back so no road noise. Iron & ironing board in wardrobe if needed.
- John (7/5): Expected better - Breakfast Cleanliness/location
- Penelope (10/5): Feel right at home in the Royal Oak, Cornsay Colliery. - It's a cosy traditional pub with friendly owners & staff. Our room was clean comfortable & quiet. The breakfasts and evening meals were excellent; really delicious home cooked grub and plenty of it. The pub well deserves it's great reviews and is locally famous for it's food. There's car parking and a bus service to Durham right outside the pub.
We stayed 4 nights meeting up with local friends. Learned a lot about the industrial history of Cornsay Colliery. The fabulous Beamish Open Air Museum and the much lesser known but still incredible Ushaw Historic House & Chapels are both nearby and should be visited. Allow a full day for each in order to have a really good look round. Could have done with a couple of hooks in the bedroom on which to hang coats but hardly a big deal.
- deborah (10/5): Traditional country pub with food and rooms. Perfect. - Very friendly and helpful landlady. Beautiful location. Traditional warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Excellent breakfast options. Would definitely recommend it for a gentle break. Nothing
- Adam (9/5): Highly recommend lovely location and staff - Breakfast, good shower. Very friendly staff. Lovely location. Curtains a tad dusty but minor point.
- Don (5/5): Nice venue but average - Location Evening food was poor.
Run out of eggs and mushrooms at breakfast one morning.
Room wasn't cleaned properly and towels were not replaced.
Although disappointed we have booked to stay here again.
- Herbert (10/5): Good hospitality in Yorkshire - Staff, food and service were exceptional! Nothing
- Chris (10/5): Fantastic as usual ! Can’t wait to stay next time . Thanks Sonia ! - Home from home as usual. Can’t be faulted.
- Francis (9/5): Affordable and comfortable, top stay. - Excellent cooked breakfast, set me up for the day, in a spacious restaurant area.
The shower cubicle was an ample size in a well proportioned bathroom.
The bed was large and comfortable, the television well placed and easy to use with a good desk underneath and a comfy armchair. Just what was needed after a long drive.
A bonus was looking out of the window in the morning onto a paddock over the road and seeing a couple of grazing horses, just like I do when I look out back at my house in Scotland. I'm going to sound like a Trip Adviser twonk for saying this but the bath towel was ever so slightly scratchy. There I've said it and I already regret mentioning it.
- Olivia (9/5): - Very welcoming as usual and the food is very good!
- Dave (9/5): -
- Teabreak (10/5): Great Local Pub - Just a really nice, friendly atmosphere, the room was really nice,with an exceptional shower,not a miserable drip. The food was really good ,fish n chips were lovely ,not a scabby breaded frozen fish,fresh well battered with home cut chips. It was quiet and in a rural location. The staff and owners were really nice and fun to be around, and the locals were friendly. This is a local pub, and it ticks all the boxes.If you are expecting a five-star luxury, then it's not for you, but if you appriecate that local pubs are the backbone of british village life and need as much support as possible. Then come and stay here ,I left feeling relaxed despite having to work the next day. No issues
- Michael (10/5): - Would recommend to anyone who puts a friendly staff & clientele high on their expectations. A well run clean typical English pub. Anytime we are back in the area, this is our place to rest.
- Maree (8/5): - Very friendly. Best bed and shower!
Breakfast was great!
- Tracey (10/5): Amazing will definitely be back - Amazing pub, food was amazing, had a meal on the night and breakfast the next day
Lovely sleep on the night, very comfortable bed with lovely views Nothing we didn’t like
- nancie (10/5): A gem of a place near Durham! - Left review on TripAdvisor. We fell upon The Royal Oak after a visit to Beamish this week & spent 2 nights dbb earlier this week.
What a gem of a place! The food (&drink!) was amazing & so very reasonable. The menu is extensive & nothing was too much trouble for Sonya & her staff. Lovely breakfast too.
The Inn is very popular with the locals & regulars, always a good sign.. We enjoyed many chats with them & took their advice to visit Raby Castle, Barnard Castle, Stanhope & Blanchard..Wow!! Lots to see in the area. The drive over the Weardale moors was something special.
We certainly hope to return & enjoy Sonya's hospitality & wonderful food again!
- Andy (9/5): -
- Stephen (10/5): Good company, great food and drink at unbelievable prices. Nice friendly owners and staff. - What a great little Pub/Restaurant, owned by a really friendly couple. Fairly extensive menu and everything was beautifully cooked. Attentive staff, without being asked every 5 minutes, if everything was alright. If you find a better value for money place than the Royal Oak you will be the luckiest person alive. Our bill for 7 of us, with most having 3 courses and several bottles of wine and a good few other drinks, was less than £40 per head. We go out as a group once a year and every single one of us wants to return. Nothing
Photos