I stayed there pre pandemic and the landlord and landlady Mr and Mrs Truby recognised me. Enjoyed a couple of drinks with them and other guests, They like to chat to guests at the bar which is really friendly. I stayed there to visit Beamish Museum and Tanfield Railway, about half hours drive. A MUST VISIT Nearby Lanchester has a decent fish and chip shop but also a good Italian restaurant Ravello. But there are good home cooked evening meals at the Royal Oak and a good breakfast. There is a country park opposite the pub. Nice for walks . Except when it rains

It was rainign and there is no covered walkway from the annex rooms ot the pub. The choice of beers was limited. No local craft beer. If you havent a car the buses only run every few hours.

A paradise place for walkers and especially dog owners as this lovely B&B is super dog friendly! Wonderful place to explore some of the stunning surrounding countryside with your furry friend. The nearby Hedleyhope Nature Reserve, with its stunning views over the fells, is not be be missed! After a day of walking, you can then treat yourself to a relaxing pint and delicious food at this lovely, friendly and family-run pub B&B, watching the sun set over the adjacent field of grazing horses :) Big congrats for offering such fantastic value for money in these inflationary times, when many chain hotels are charging silly money. Spotlessly clean and comfortable room, and delicious inclusive full English breakfast. Will definitely back soon to enjoy the warm hospitality here and to explore more of the beauty spots in the surrounding countryside here with my 4-legged boy!

The Royal Oak is a real gem. We booked at short notice and didn't expect a lot given the low price but it really exceeded expectations. The staff are so friendly and helpful and the pub itself is a lovely traditional one with real fires and comfortable seating. We had a delicious dinner and enjoyed good ales and wines. Breakfast was excellent too, with a great selection of hot and cold food, served quickly and with a smile. The room has been recently refurbished, the bathroom in particular being really up to date. We didn't expect nice extras like complimentary toiletries and bottled water but there they were. Thanks you, we'd love to stay here again.

Nothing

I booked for one night as a stopover on route and found it to be very friendly and the food was excellent and good value for money. Some furnishings looked a little tired but they were in the process of fitting new shower rooms which were very nice and the bed was very comfortable. I liked it well enough to book for my journey home and would be happy to stay there again. It was dog friendly too which was a bonus and there's a lovely wooded walk just across the road.

Nothing really! It's a pub in an old mining village with lots of history and very convenient for touring the area

The landlady and landlord were friendly and very accommodating. The room was immaculate lovely bed linen and fluffy towels and with a lovely ensuite . And everything was cleaned to a very high standard. Could definitely charge more .. The menu was extensive for meat eaters with a few options available for vegetarians. I am a vegetarian and my options were freshly made with great taste..and beautifully presented.. The meat eater loved each and every one of his meals and cleared his plate and they were huge portions too.. The pub itself is decorated beautifully with two log burners creating a homely feel. Thank you to all..A Lovely stay in a traditional pub. We will be back.

A well appointed room with all the amenities you'd expect with a very comfortable bed, located in a quiet village with the countryside for background noises. Dinner from the bar was tasty, well priced and very generous and breakfast was a delicious morning treat. Super helpful and friendly staff. Overall a great stay for the price and less than 20 minutes from Durham.

The room was in the final stages of renovation so there were a few snags needed finishing off, but nothing drastic.

The location of The Royal Oak was perfect. The views front and back were beautiful. It was warm and cosy with beautiful home-cooked food (real chips!) of large proportion and the breakfast was one of the best we have had, with plenty of choices. The rooms were immaculately clean and we had everything we needed for our overnight stay. The staff were friendly and helpful in every way. Great value for money. I would highly recommend The Royal Oak and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

Nothing at all.

The Royal Oak doesn't look like anything special from the outside, but don't be fooled by that - the room we had was large, clean and comfortable with lovely views over open fields. It was one of the best places we stayed during our six-week tour, and we would have liked to have had more than one night there. The beds and pillows were just right, and it was quiet overnight so we got a good night's sleep. We had a very good evening meal and breakfast in the pub. The landlady was friendly and helpful, and even got two burly lads at the bar to take our suitcases upstairs for us!

The room was very comfortable, perfectly clean, with a well equipped bathroom. The owners could not have been friendlier or more helpful, even putting me on to a local garage (the proprietor was a regular at the pub) when my door mirror fell victim to someone else's careless driving. Breakfast was excellent and evening meals huge and really varied.

Everything was fine, a really friendly comfortable pub.

The breakfast was excellent with lots of choice, including a full English cooked breakfast. The shower in my room was extremely powerful and modern. I did not stay for an evening meal but I would have if I had more time as the bar and dining area had a lovely feel to it. All the staff I met were so friendly and helpful. The Royal Oak is located opposite a country park, great for walkers. Unfortunately I did not have time to explore, but maybe next time!

The sockets by the bed did not work (for table lamps and charging my phone). The hairdryer did not work but the owner loaned me hers straight away, which was very kind. They are going to refurbish soon so all this will be resolved. Very minor points which did not really spoil my enjoyment of the room.