Farnley Tower  

This is a private hotel essentially offering bed and breakfast but with an exceptional gourmet restaurant attached. The room we were in was spacious, comfortable, warm and with incredible views over the castle, the cathedral and the town itself. The breakfasts are superbly cooked. The restaurant is unique. My wife was raised in a British Embassy where her father was Ambassador and her former husband was a chef of considerable reputation yet all she kept saying was "I've never had a meal like this". And believe me she meant it as a compliment. The hotel is also dog friendly with grounds large enough and safe enough for exercise. All this in almost the centre of Durham. Exceptional.

Well, it's pretty hard to find on a cold black night and when you get there in the rain the exterior of this great Victorian edifice is gloomy and Dickensian, raising pangs of trepidation. However, the warmth of the greeting dispels this and somehow you never notice it again. It must be a beautiful place on a warm summer night. The uniquness of the restaurant is such that you wouldn't want to eat there every night largely because you'd worry you might damage the memory of the pleasure of first eating there. Snacks are available as an alternative but if you were staying for a while you'd need to go out for dinner some nights. The management happily provide recommendations.

Staff were friendly and service was great. Room was warm.

Expected a better standard of room considering booking a "superior" room but the pictures on the site were far more glamorous than the room we received. There was also no hot water during our stay which You can't predict but was still disappointing.

Very nice breakfast.

Our room needed a little tlc. Terrible shower and the bedroom carpet was stained. Charge on credit card was annoying (if my sister and I 'didn't like it' then surely it's a 'complaint'!)

The food in the Gourmet Spot was outstandingly good. The hotel was comfortable and attractively decorated. The staff were friendly and attentive.

Ran out of beer in the bar. The 12.5% service charge on the food in the restaurant and the 2% surcharge for credit card payments were irritating.

Clean and tidy. Spacious Room

Low staff level. Broadband connection week

The hotel is a pleasant 10 mins walk from the city centre and close to some nice traditional pubs. The hotel is in a lovely Victorian pile with good views over the city. The staff are friendly and go far to accommodate you. This was my second stay and I look forward to coming back.

The TV was a bit small so I had to squint to see it from the bed!

Excellent location with views of the city, free parking and about ten minutes walk mostly downhill to cathedral and castle. Impressive building outside and in, comfortable bedroom with good decor, ample choice of cereals, fresh fruit, cooked items for breakfast served in beautiful room with view over garden and city. Friendly and helpful staff.

Welcoming and friendly staff and a good location.

Excellent,clean accommodation.Efficient friendly staff,good breakfast.Good views from hotel.

Lovely position.but not the easiest to find.

Convenience was excellent, and a very quiet location. The view from the breakfast dining room was a joy to behold. The staff were very helpful although rather stretched on the busier morning.

Although clean on arrival, the room was not cleaned after the first night (a dead fly on the carpet on the first morning was still there in the evening). The bathroom was looking rather tired - wobbly tap and gaps between bath and tiled wall repeatedly filled. Arrival at 2000hrs on Sunday was met by a closed dining room (probably my fault for not reading the details carefully), but the staff recommended a nearby Italian restaurant which was very convenient and good. Unfortunately the dining room was also closed Monday night when the hotel was rather busy which was a disappointment.

The friendliness of the staff and room was large and comfortable. The cooked breakfast was amazing.

Access to the hotel is up a steep hill. The fabric on the chairs is worn and some of the towels looked as though they needed replacing.

Location. The food for breakfast was excellent quality and excellently cooked and served.

One item of linen had a small hole in it

The hotel was clean, the staff were very friendly and polite. The g Spot restuarant was exceptional, the food was outstanding and service should be highly commended.

The hotel was tired and in desperate need of refurbishment.