• Added: 30th of September 2008
• Area: Durham
• Category: Restaurants

Durham DH1 3NP

lealea7909 said

We were very impressed by the quality of food and the fantastic value offered at La Spaghetta. We visited on a busy Saturday night and after a short wait, they were able to seat us with no problems. The staff were friendly, the menu wide and varied and the prices were fantastic. My pasta was beautiful and after ordering 2 mains, a side and 2 bottles of Bulmers, the meal cost under £25. The only thing that concerned my boyfriend was a rather freaky stuffed toy monkey, which was sat on the 'roof' of the bar area, wearing a Hannibal Lecter mask?! We've only visited once, but we'd definitely return!

• Added: 30th of September 2008
• Area: Durham
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Durham DH1 3NU
0191 3843261

lealea7909 said

Brilliant! I loved Shakespeare's and have nothing bad to say about it. The bar staff were really friendly and knowledgeable, recommending a fantastic Italian for our tea, and the pub itself was full of history and atmosphere. I loved the sloping floors and the little snug area which we invaded, plus the back room, with its many books. It's such a shame that the Shakespeare book that made the pub famous was stolen, as I was looking forward to reading it. It's an a great location, just up from the Market Place and right in the centre of town. Prices were reasonable and the atmosphere fab. Love it!

• Added: 30th of September 2008
• Area: Durham
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Durham

lealea7909 said
Good Value
Gilesgate Travelodge is located just outside of the city centre, next to the Gilesgate Roundabout and just past the bypass. It is quite difficult to locate if you don't know Durham very well, but it's still within walking distance of the shops, bars and restaurants in the city centre. The lodge is everything you'd expect to find in a standard Travelodge - ample parking, vending machines stocking snacks, dirnks and toiletries and friendly reception staff. The rooms are also standard - basic but clean, and at £19 - who cares?! We had a good shower, a comfy bed and a TV that worked, so we were happy. Very good value, would definitely go back.

• Added: 30th of September 2008
• Area: Ryton
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Ryton

lealea7909 said
Beautiful House in Lovely Grounds
The Hedgefield Hotel is located in Stella, on the main road on the way to Ryton. The house is just visible from the road and a long, winding driveway leads you to the hotel. The grounds are lovely, with several acres and lots of greenery. The house itself is also very impressive, with ivy trailing up the side and a nice little parking area. The owners of Hedgefield House are very pleasant and the rooms are really nice - quite large and grand, many with a fantastic view of the grounds. The prices are also very reasonable - staring from about £40 for a double.

• Added: 29th of September 2008
• Area: Blaydon On Tyne
• Category: Restaurants

Blaydon On Tyne

lealea7909 said
Great 3 Course Happy Hour Offer
Papa Nonno's has changed its name recently, from Michelangelo's Restaurant to its current name. I visited the restaurant at the weekend and I was impressed with the food and the level of service. We chose to eat from the 3 course special menu. We had the choice of ribs, garlic mushrooms, potato skins or soup to start with, from which I chose garlic mushrooms and my boyfriend chose minestrone soup. He wasn't too keen on the soup as the veg was very chunky and the potatoes were still a little hard, but my mushrooms were lovely. We also received a big basket of bread to dig into before our main course. For my main, I chose Romano Tagliatelle, which is chicken, white wine, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, garlic and cream. Absolutely delish! My boyfriend chose a bacon and chilli pasta, which he was also very impressed with. For dessert, we both had vanilla ice cream, which was nice. As 3 courses only set us back £6.25, and the food was very nice, we'll definitely go back.

• Added: 29th of September 2008
• Area: South Shields
• Category: Events and Entertainment

South Shields

lealea7909 said
Gorgeous Venue
I visited Hedworth Hall for the first time last month, when I attended the evening reception of a friend's wedding. The venue was large, with a lovely sitting area and bar when you first enter the building. This area has lots of low sofas and looks very relaxed - a perfect way to allow the main room to be filled with tables. Through some double doors was the main reception room. It was very large, with a dance floor area that was also used for the buffet, and a raised DJ area, which was a lovely touch. There was also a small bar in the main room, selling just a couple of draught products and some bottles. There was a door leading from the main room to a plain but functional outdoor smoking area, and the room was decorated beautifully. A lovely place for a wedding reception!

• Added: 29th of September 2008
• Area: Blaydon On Tyne
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Blaydon On Tyne NE21 4LW

lealea7909 said

I visited the Board Inn on a Saturday night recently and I can't believe the change in the place. It was absolutely dead - literally me and the bar staff. I believe it's been taken over again and from what I saw, they really will need to push for business. I overheard the staff talking about entertainment in the form of a karaoke night - if The Board Inn are planning to introduce entertainment, they will need to ensure that it's widely advertised, so that people know about it. I was really shocked at the lack of custom - the pub is in good condition after a refurb not that long ago and it was awful to see the place so empty on a Saturday night. The Board is one pub that is desperately in need of help.

• Added: 29th of September 2008
• Area: Ryton
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Ryton

lealea7909 said
Traditional Village Pub
The Half Moon in Ryton Village has changed hands several times over the past few years. The current owners have given the place a bit of a makeover - a lick of paint and new furniture has made the pub look better. It's still a small, traditional and welcoming village pub, with three rooms: the bar area, a small pool room and a back room, containing a jukebox and games machine. The prices in The Moon aren't any more expensive than the rest of Ryton, and it's proximity to the other village pubs makes it a perfect visit on a pub crawl. The staff and regulars are all friendly and the pub has a huge outdoor area, with a few seats and a kiddies play area.

• Added: 29th of September 2008
• Area: North Shields
• Category: Take Aways

North Shields

lealea7909 said
Fab Fish & Chips
I was only recently introduced to the wonder of Bill's Fish Bar, by a friend of mine who's been visiting the outlet for years. It's in a fab location, just over the road from Cullercoats beach, so there's not far to walk to find somewhere scenic to eat your food. The fish here really is great and it comes in a box instead of paper - although I prefer my food to be wrapped in paper, (for some reason I think it makes it taste better!)a large box is easier to eat out of if you're dining al fresco. I always order the chicken bites from Bill's, which I must admit at first glance, don't actually look particularly nice! I was expecting battered chicken nugget type things, but they're actually chunks of chicken breast, covered in a beautiful seasoning before they're fried. The resulting chicken bites do look a bit like they're overcooked because of this seasoning, but the first bite tells you that they're actually lovely! Whenever I'm in Cullercoats now, I can't resist popping into Bill's. Yum!

• Added: 29th of September 2008
• Area: Whitley Bay
• Category: Take Aways

Whitley Bay

lealea7909 said
The Best Fish & Chips in Whitley Bay
Pantrini's in Whitley Bay does the best fish and chips on that part of the coast. Situated very close to the sands and next door to the amusements, Pantrini's has been open for years and has a very good reputation. It is a large shop, with a takeaway section, plus an area to eat in, with waitress service. The same food is served in both areas, with the prices a little higher if you wish to eat in the restaurant area. The fish at Pantrini's is gorgeous and the chips are always cooked perfectly. The chicken steak burgers are always really nice form here, and they also sell Irn Bru - extra brownie points in my opinion! I'm also assured that other items on the menu are really tasty, including the battered sausages and scampi. Don't miss out on a trip to Pantrini's the next time you're in Whitley Bay.