The Ball Alley
Location: Shield Row Stanley Co Durham Dh9 0lh, Stanley, gb
Star Rating: 9.1 Stars
Property Type: Bed and breakfasts
About this Property
Historic Building Charm
Experience a stay like no other at The Ball Alley, nestled in a historic building in Stanley. Feel the charm of the past while enjoying modern amenities.
Family-Friendly Accommodation
With spacious family rooms and a picnic area, The Ball Alley is perfect for a memorable family getaway. Create lasting memories in a cozy and welcoming environment.
Convenient Location
Just a short distance from Beamish Museum and with easy access to MetroCentre and Utilita Arena, The Ball Alley offers a convenient stay for exploring the area.
Book now for an unforgettable stay at The Ball Alley and make the most of your trip to Stanley!
Important Information
This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.
Policies
Check-in: 03:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Amenities & Facilities
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking throughout
- Shared kitchen
- Staff adhere to local safety protocols
- First aid kit available
- Face masks for guests available
- Free wired internet
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Internet access
- Private picnics
- Japanese garden
- Secured parking
Rooms Available
-
Triple Room
Featuring free toiletries, this triple room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The triple room features a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, as well as heating. The unit has 2 beds.
Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)
- Shower
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Linen
- Toilet paper
-
Budget Double Room
Featuring free toiletries, this double room includes a shared bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room has a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, as well as heating. The unit has 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Linen
- Toilet paper
-
Family Room
Offering free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The family room offers a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle and heating. The unit offers 3 beds.
Max Occupancy: 4 (3 Adults)
- Shower
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Linen
- Toilet paper
-
Double Room with Private Bathroom
Featuring free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a wardrobe, an electric kettle, heating, as well as a flat-screen TV. The unit has 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Linen
- Toilet paper
-
Single Room with Private Bathroom
Featuring free toiletries, this single room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The single room features a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, as well as heating. The unit has 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 1 (1 Adults)
- Shower
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Linen
- Toilet paper
Guest Reviews
- Jones (9/5): Great value for money. - The room was freshly carpeted and clean. The shower was great. Good beer too. Nothing.
- Deville (8/5): - The staff were very friendly and helpful. Room clean comfy a lovely breakfast. Had a good choice of drinks at the bar downstairs
. Would definitely stay again xx
- Paul (10/5): Great place..Clean and tidy, quiet, great beer. - Loved everything.
Lindsay was extremely helpful.
Clean room, quiet, great breakfast, great beer (Stones). Nothing really.
- Dave (10/5): - Great stay. Ideal for the wedding we were attending just up the road. Clean, lovely staff and good breakfast.
- Robin (10/5): Adequate - Breakfast was exceptional, everything one would need and served with a smile. Ensuite would have been good.
- Sarah (7/5): Comfortable, clean and breakfast was excellent! - Clean and comfortable
- Jodie (10/5): - Lovely breakfast and friendly hosts. Thank you.
Good transport links to Newcastle by buses.
Only a short walk from local bus station. (15 minutes walk)
- aurelio matteo (8/5): -
- Leanne (10/5): - We stayed here as it was close to a wedding nearby where it was over £300 to stay. This is located just a short walk (less than 10 minutes) away for a fraction of the price. We were welcomed by friendly staff and customers of the pub too!! The rooms are basic and nothing flash but incredibly clean, warm and comfortable and had everything you could need. The breakfast the next day was exceptional. Lots of cereal to choose from, lovely ice cold fresh orange juice pots of tea and coffee, toast with plenty of jam choices and a beautifully cooked full English! I have already recommended it to at least 3 people! Nothing!
- Paul (10/5): Top place to stay, friendly owner, comfortable and quiet room, good beer, great breakfast. - Lindsay the owner made us feel really at home and couldn't help enough, even suggesting places in Durham to visit as our Newcastle castle visit fell through.
The Ball Alley was easy to find and in a nice location, the room was clean and comfortable, the breakfast excellent, and the "Stones" beer was an added bonus.
Top marks all round.. I couldn't find fault.
- Gary (10/5): - Excellent breakfast
- Sonia (10/5): - Michael.met us to check in and even offered us a lift to.our venue.
- Ken (8/5): very comfy bed in a nice room - radiator was a bit noisy
- Cheryll (8/5): -
- Denis (9/5): -
- Julie Ann (8/5): Had a lovely time ,like the garden ,you can watch the sun set - All good ,nice breakfast too .Would stay again . Value for money, we're used to a king size bed . So bit cosy in a double for us .
- Hannah (8/5): -
- Amanda (9/5): A good value stay. The staff were friendly and helpful. The breakfast excellent. - Breakfast great.
A very friendly family run pub.
My son enjoyed playing darts and pool. in the pub. This helped with the stay as there is little to do in Stanley with a child in the evening. Everything was fine.
- Peter (8/5): Clean and comfortable, with a friendly team. The live music spoilt our stay. - Room was comfortable and clean.
Service was really friendly and the food was very good. The live music on Saturday night was incredibly loud and kept us all awake. Had I known in advance about the music, I would probably not have booked.
It wasn’t made clear that vegetarian breakfast options needed to be pre-ordered.
- Carol (10/5): - Room was very clean plenty space for a family room ,loved the access to the kitchen next door aswell
- Mariana (10/5): -
- Guest (9/5): - The staff were friendly, and the breakfast was a delight. Very convenient location to visit Beamish Museum.
- Nicholas (9/5): Overall very good, would stay again and recommend. - Great staff and excerlent breakfast, faultless.
The locals in the bar made us feel very at home.
- Sharron (10/5): Fabulous, I will continue to stay here - Everything. Food, staff and location. N/A
- James (10/5): - Lovely comfortable beds. Ideal location for us attending a wedding at South Causey Inn. Na
- Martin (9/5): - Very clean, comfortable room, great breakfast, friendly people.
- Amy (8/5): - Very close to south cosy inn for wedding guest . Helpful staff, clean room and lovely breakfast Bed wasn't most comfy. Only a double size. But decent enough
- Simon (7/5): only one night very clean and friendly people but I would have preferred on suite facilities - clean and friendly great pub Did not realise when booking the 2 rooms I booked had to share a bathroom across the landing
- craig (9/5): Great little stay. - Friendly welcome and easy check in.Good spacious room. Clean and a great shower Parking was a bit tricky. But I do have a big estate car
- Sophie (10/5): So friendly, went above and beyond to make sure I got breakfast before an early checkout - Couldn’t recommend enough. The staff went out their way to get me breakfast when they found out I was leaving early to get to the airport. Room was immaculate and great location to stay after a wedding at the South Causey Inn down the road.
- Lisa (10/5): - Clean well maintained rooms, comfortable beds, with lots of pillows, excellent breakfast selection, very friendly staff, nothing was too much trouble. The locals in the pub downstairs were all really nice and chatty too. Loved the little kitchenette we had access to. Really felt like a home from home. 5 minute walk to the venue we attended for a wedding. 100% recommend. 25 minute drive to Newcastle or Durham, 5 minutes to Beamish.
- Bell (7/5): Felt save and relaxed - Breakfast good The bar let down the lovely bed and breakfast part
- Dominic (10/5): - Friendly atmosphere, comfortable rooms, and full English was excellent Nothing to be honest
- Paul (8/5): -
- rick (9/5): -
- Davis (10/5): - Admittedly it wasn't the best looking on the outside, but the room was clean and bright, the staff were extremely helpful and breakfast was delicious. We thought it was very good value
- Roy (7/5): - Friendly staff, good breakfast Didn't realise it was a room with a shared bathroom
- Babs (9/5): Very good accommodatoon and marvellous breakfast would recommend. - The staff were so helpful and friendly.
As I mentioned I was Gluten Free, GF bread provided at breakfast and the GF cereal selection was the best I have experienced.
Well done to all. Breakfast is amazing with full English menu, milk on tables for cereal an individual pot of coffee (lovely touch) and orange juice all presented so nicely.
Bedroom was clean and tidy, extra pillows available in wardrobe if needed.
Would book again. Staff, breakfast, and clean rooms.
- Fiona (9/5): A wonderfully welcoming stay that made our weekend. - On arrival we parked up with ease and headed through the front of the bar. It felt a little daunting at first, but any nerves disappeared instantly when the regulars greeted us with a friendly hello. We were shown to our room, which had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The beds were cosy, the room was warm, and the shower was honestly the most powerful I’ve ever used. There were extra tea and coffee supplies available too, which was a lovely touch.
We went out for food in the evening but returned to find a fantastic singer performing in the bar, so we stayed for an hour to enjoy the atmosphere before heading to bed. We could hear the music from our room, but it finished at 11pm on the dot, so it didn’t disturb us at all.
Breakfast the next morning was excellent. A full English with toast, juice, tea or coffee, plus a selection of cereals. It set us up perfectly for our day at Beamish, which was only a four minute drive away, making the location ideal.
Nothing was too much trouble for the staff, and everyone we met was so warm and welcoming. Their hospitality genuinely helped make our weekend feel special.
- Marie (10/5): -
- Marie (10/5): Very good value for money - The location was perfect. Rooms were very comfortable and clean. Breakfast was very good Nothing
- Ethan (10/5): -
- Diane (10/5): Very enjoyable stay. Would definitely recommend - Room was very clean and warm. Bed very comfortable. Shower was very good.
Breakfast very nice
Would definitely recommend and definitely stay again Nothing
- Anna-Marie (10/5): Excellent value for money would definitely use again if in this area - The location was ideal as we were attending an event close by.
The breakfast was excellent and even catered for our grandchildren asking for something which was not on the menu. n/a
- Amanda (8/5): - Staff very helpful and friendly.
- Healey (7/5): - The breakfast was very good with a good range of alternatives to a full English none
- Carole (10/5): Great pub, clean and comfortable lovely room. Great breakfast. Friendly and Welcoming! - The breakfast was excellent and the service great. Really nice friendly atmosphere. Exceed our expectations Cannot fault anything
- Daniele (1/5): Mettere in tasca soldi senza lavorare è facile ma questa non è serietà - Niente Tutto
- Jane (10/5): We loved our stay, it was brief but perfect. We will definitely return and recommend - A lovely little B&B a stone throw from Beamish which was where we wanted to be. Very clean, comfortable and excellent staff. There wasn’t anything to not like.
- Stuart (8/5): - Breakfast was great, plenty to choose from. Parking was a little tight
- Brian (10/5): Very enjoyable. - Great breakfast comfortable accommodation helpful hosts.
Perfect location for visiting Beamish Living Museum and Tanfield railway.
- Chris (10/5): -
- Carol (10/5): - Fantastic place,lovely room and outside beer garden
- John (10/5): The owners place people area everything about the ball alley is just excellent - Micheal and lindsay are fantastic people and hosts rooms are very comfortable and to a very high standard food and the breakfast you wont beat the people and the area fantastic and the ball alley has aa family and community atmosphere loved it and the owner beautiful place Could nit fault anything
- Tim (9/5): Friendly people - good stay. - Great breakfast. Cooked to order. I was in a front-facing bedroom so traffic noise was a slight issue. Not too bad, though.
- Philip (10/5): Book 3 nights visiting beamand looking round Durham, went to Seaham beach had a lovely time . - Friendly staff ,quite room tea and coffee in room or you had the use of a kitchen if you needed it. Pub up hill if you wanted food all good. Nothing everything was good.
- Jan (8/5): -
- june (8/5): Welcoming, warm people hosting with nothing too much trouble for them. - Super - Thank you - Lovely people and very warm and friendly.
Private entrance so separate from the rest of the Pub if wanted
Cracking breakfast with all that is wanted
Lovely team and loads of tea/coffee/milk etc for the room which you have constant access to
Very good all round - Many Thanks !! All Good !
- Lorraine (7/5): Very welcoming hosts - Central for our needs N/A
- Laurence (9/5): - Room was spacious and clean
Plenty of coffee.
Staff excellent Saturday night unfortunately the entertainment (band) their speakers must of been directly under our family bedroom and at full power the vibration and noise made it impossible to sleep till they finished.
- Suzanna (8/5): - Very clean, tidy. Perfect for our needs. Unusual not to have ensuite bathroom but not really an issue.
Breakfast was great. Eggs were lovely! Staff were really friendly. Good location to visit Beamish museum.
- Lynne (10/5): Lovely place, spotlessly clean , great value . - Host amazing . Great communication , at a family wedding at the South Causey and let us book in really early . 1 min drive from the south causey . Decor looks new, spotlessly clean . Nice touches like spares in the corridor . Great breakfast quickly served . Bedrooms with spares and comfy beds . Slept really well Nothing really other than some rooms are not en-suite , BUT , the bathroom is spotlessly clean and really close to the rooms . I wouldn’t let this put me off if I stayed again, which I would
- Lynne (10/5): Gem of a B and B excellent value - Great communication with the owner. Allowed us to check in early . Allowed us to swap rooms . Friendly host. Spotlessly clean . Decor immaculate . Spares for the tea tray left in the corridor . Free parking . 1 min drive away from the south causey . Great breakfast served really quickly . Can’t fault my stay Some rooms are not en-suite but the communal bathroom is really close to the rooms and spotlessly clean . We had multiple rooms with family so didn’t matter . I would stay here again even if I didn’t have an en-suite
- Jade (10/5): -
- Rita (10/5): -
- GARRY (10/5): Just what we needed thank you - We’ve stayed here before and don’t need to
Look any where else to stay this is purfect staff helpful breakfast very nice couldn’t as for any more thank you we will stay again Everything was good
- Elisabeth (9/5): Friendly welcome, a hidden gem - We had a comfy, clean, quiet room in this historic building. We had a lovely warm welcome and a fantastic breakfast each morning.
The pub had an act on both nights, which created a great atmosphere with the friendly locals.
Although the Ball Alley does not serve evening meals they were happy to direct us to the nearby Blue Bell Inn which served delicious Turkish food. Shower room was a little chilly but plenty of hot water in the powerful shower.
- Kerry (9/5): - Our room was very clean, comfortable and bright N0 spoon to stir your cuppa plus lack of bottled water
- Titchener (10/5): - Was all brilliant nice and homey breakfast was well worth it as well 100% would book again
- Aramis (9/5): - Great B&B above a pub. Super friendly staff / owners, really helpful and accommodating. Room was exactly what I needed as a solo traveller, comfy bed and decent ensuite. Smart TV was a nice addition and the table allowed me to do my "WFH" in the morning. Nothing, very happy with the whole 2 night experience.
- Campbell (9/5): Nice stay at Ball Alley - Check in was easy. The young lady showed us to our room. The room was basic but had all the necessities. There was tea, coffee, milk, sugar. One of the mugs was dirty, so I popped to the kitchen to change it. The kitchen was a shared kitchen which was good, I made toast a couple of times. The cleaners obviously use the kitchen, it was a bit messy full of cleaning stuff. Although they suggest you should eat in the kitchen instead of your room, I wouldn't want to eat sitting at a table full of cleaning products.
There was a little table in the hallway with extras in case needed as well as mobile numbers for the owners in case there was a problem. It felt really welcoming. The doors are firedoors, so slam which woke me this morning. Maybe a little not on the door telling people to close it gently could help. The tea station looks like it hasn't been wiped in a while and just topped up as it had all bits on. Breakfast finished at 9:30, which is quite early for a weekend. We missed it both mornings. Parking was tight, as i drive a van.
- Michelle (10/5): Brilliant stay, wonderful staff very welcoming. - Excellent staff, exceptional breakfast, comfortable bed and room. Nothing
- Sophie (10/5): -
- Aly (10/5): - Friendly hassle free stay
- blazer (9/5): - Great breakfast that set you up for the day, great friendly staff. Clean and fresh rooms.
- Kath (9/5): - Spacious room and bathroom.. Clean.
The owner was nice.
Good value
- alan (9/5): - Everything Nothing
- Newsham (8/5): Clean, comfy and friendly! - Room was warm. Bed was comfy. Breakfast was freshly prepared and well cooked. Parking was available and free. Unfortunately there was no plug in the hand basin in the bathroom- mentioned on first morning at breakfast but not replaced until prompted at breakfast the next morning when I was checking out.
- margaret (8/5): - Room was very warm and comfortable. Breakfast very generous. Internet dropped out so roku tv shows the live tv was gitchy. The weather was bad though, which possibly the cause. But two nights no internet/tv..
- John (10/5): Worth it - Friendly atmosphere Nothing
- Ian (8/5): Comfortable room. Great hosts - Both good Larger bed
- Trevor (10/5): -
- Richard (10/5): -
- Vilà i Trias (8/5): -
- william (10/5): Great place to stay - Lovely welcome and allocated a quiet room. Enjoyed a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast in the morning. All good
- Thurston Accommodation (10/5): - Nice clean rooms, comfortable bed. Breakfast was great
- Neil (8/5): - 10/10
- Gary (9/5): -
- Brian Flockhart (10/5): Perfect - Exactly what we needed. Nothing too flashy and a really good price. N/A
- Graham (7/5): -
- Sharron (10/5): Value for money. - Helpful , friendly staff. Clean property. Excellent breakfast.
Friendly locals in the bar.
Free car parking. N/A
- daniel (10/5): -
- Victoria (10/5): -
- Darren (10/5): Very happy with our stay and wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again. - Location was spot on for a family wedding happening a 5 minute walk away!
Beds very comfortable, friendly staff, and the breakfast was very good too. There was nothing that we weren’t happy with.
- Lisa (10/5): Comfortable reasonably priced B&B - The rooms were clean, well equipped, bed was comfortable with plenty of spare pillows if needed.
The breakfast was lovely and plentiful!
All the staff we came across were helpful and the owner was lovely!
A group of us stayed here for 2 nights when attending a wedding at the South Causey Inn which is literally a 10 min walk up the road.
There is a 24 hour garage just across the road which was helpful.
Overall I would recommend the Ball Alley to stay. It may not look much from the outside however don’t be fooled! You will not be disappointed. Nothing!
- Thackery (10/5): -
- paul (10/5): Great location friendly staff and welcoming locals - How friendly staff and locals where great place to stay will be back again soooon There was nothing to dislike
- derek (10/5): A walk down memory lane in the Durham I remember 40 years ago - Heart of old Durham What I expected
- Matthew (10/5): A wonderful stay at a charming spot with great staff. - The fact that someone came in the morning to allow me to check in early, as I was attending an engagement party that started at noon elsewhere.
The breakfast was really nice, freshly cooked to order, the staff were all super friendly, helpful, and easy going, and the bed was nice and comfortable. I honestly can't think of anything bad about my visit.
- craigdobie (10/5): - The whole team at Ball Alley were very helpful and friendly. Also liked the fact locals that knew we were just visiting were happy to chat and give helpful information about local area.
The breakfast was to die for. Nothing all was great
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