wootie's Qype profile

Great free place to visit if you are in the area.

Exhibitions spread over four floors. Some are permananet and some are ever changin. A lot of the works on display are oil paintings in quite a classical style although there are often exhibitions of modern art here too - particularly exhibits of work belonging to people who wer originally from the region and have gone on to be famous in the art or fashion industry.

The children’s gallery is open whenever the main gallery is open and is a great resource. It is aimed at age five and below with lots of hands on activities to help to explore colour, shape, sound and space. Comfortable, clean floor cushions with lots of great children’s books on an arty theme to read aloud. There is a small 'den’ area that the children can crawl into to play too.

Various children’s art clubs in school holidays and weekends.

The cafe is spacious and has high chairs. The range of food and drinks is rather limited and can be sparse after the lunch time rush.

here s a museum shop selling prints, art books and various souvenirs in addition to a gift shop seeling more expensive pieces of jewellery, glasswear ec.

Disabled access is good with lift access to all floors.

Short walking distance to NCP car park as well as a Metro Station.

To be honest I dont think I could spend hours at this gallery and wouldn’t travel miles and miles to visit it but it is certainly worth looking in if you are in the area - even if only to appreciate a short time of calm and tranquility before hitting thehustle and bustle of town again. A nice break from shopping for small children too.

As you drive past this place can look a little like a basic motel but it is much more than that. Inside it has character and charm

The bar area isquite traditional but also has a flair of Thailand in keeping with the Thai restaraunt joined ont the hotel - open to resident and non resident guests alike.

The rooms are not what you would expect of a luxurious five star hotel but they are more than basic. Much more comfortable and homely than the average motel.

Excellently situated for exploring Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough - just a short drive from the A1 where you can quickly head off to wehere you would like to be.

Large car park area.

The Thai restaraunt is outstanding - by far the best Thai restaraunt I have ever been to. The waiting staff wear traditional attire and can tell you about the food and advise you u what to have with what. Very helpful, polite and attentive. The food is excellent. Outstanding. Views out over Wearside and Tyneside in the distance.

The restaraunt does offer special deals on occassions such as Valentines day and also has Sunday Lunch deals.

Toilets are spacious and always scrupulously clean.

Modern decor serving a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and cakes. Child friendly with high chairs.

A fabulous hotel with restaraunt and other facilities open to non resident guests also.

Set just a stones throw from the banks of the River Wear it really is remarkable. Very scenic and romantic.

Most of the staff within the castle are dressed in Elizabethan costmes and the castle is decorated in this perid style.

Accomodation is inside the main building of the castle and also in a separate courtyard area. Both are good. The honeymoon suites are excellent with grand Elizabethan four poster beds and luscious furnishings in keeping with the historical period.

The restaraount has varied reviews. I have alwasy enjoyed it when I have gone but I know a number of people who have been dissapointed. It is much more expensive that the average restaraunt and this doesn’t alwasy seem to be reflected in the service.

Elizabethan Banquets are held here in the dungeon area below the astle. Guests sit on long wooden benches eating Elizabethan food with a knife and spoon while being entertained by the lords and ladies of the court. These venings are popular and you need to book in advance. They cost about £35 per head and have been going for over thirty years.

Non guests can visit for afternoon tea which is priced at about £10 per head for hot drinks, cream scones and biscuits - certainly not cheap but for an occassional treat it is quite decadent.

I have to say I do not like this place. Part of the reason for that is most likely that I rarely eat meat and find the over powering smell of raw meat in the parking area and the stor itself really nauseating. On hot days the smell is stomach churning and the car park swarms with flies.

In addition to the masses of meat available here there is a also a fair selecrion of fruit and vegetables. Sometimes there is local produce but I am yet to see any organic stuff here. Prices are slightly lower than the supermarkets which attracts custom and in turn ensures that there is a high enough turnover for things to be fresh. All of the fruit and veg I have had from here is fresh.

There is an in house bakery which sells breads and cakes. Ingredients are not listed on all of their bakery products making it very difficult to shop there of there are any allergies in the family. What bread I have bought here has been fine.

There is also a fish and a cheese counter. Much of the fish appears to be frozen as opposed to fresh so you would not be able to freeze at home.

The cafe is basic and in keeping with the whole place - stack it high and sell it cheap!

This lovely little cafe is a real find. The food is basic - sandwiches, jacket potatos, paninis and home made cakes and scones. A range of hot and cold drinks.

In addition to food and drinks you can also paint pottery here. Small pieces start from about £6 for a small ornament ranging up to in excess of £40 for large ornaments, bowls, plates etc. You paint at the same table where you eat and dribnk so you can really take your time - over your coffee and your painting!

Paint, brushes and splash mats are provided. They will alwasy give you some advice about how to get the best results. You leave the item once painted and it will be ready to collect, fired and glazed usually within a week.

This place is also the venue for out of school care which seems to take place primarily upstairs in the space above the cafe. This space can also be hred for children’s parties and youth group trips out. The parties include food and pottery painting as opposed to party games.

Ladies nights are available. You can arrange for you and your friends (I think there may be a minimum of 6) to go along one evening and have the cafe to yourselves plus a member of staff. Buffet options are available in advance and someone will be on had to serve hot and soft drinks all evening. becauser the place does not have a licence you can take your own alcohol to these nights. I am not entirely certain but I think all members of the party must paint pottery in addition to joining in the buffet.

This place has been popular for years. It got it’s name because it was one of the Tony Blair’s favourite places to eat when he came home to his home constituency. At that time the food was traditional english cuisine and it was very difficult to get a table.

The place is now under new management and is an Indian restaraunt. When I first went along I was very surprised. I expected the usual run of the mill Inidian restaraount but this is something very special. I wish I had booked a table in advance as it was very busy and judging by the quality of the food I doubt this wil be unusual.

The menu was very varied and included a lot of dishes which I had not come across before. The vegetarian and fish selections were particularly impressive with some dishes offring whole fishes such as tandoori trout.

The decor is tasteful but authentic. No flock wall paper or cheap prints of elephants. Sophisticated and impressive.

The service was good. Despite being busy we didn’t have to wait long for food or drinks.

The only negative comment I could possibly make is that there are steps inside which may prevent some disabled access. This is a shame.

There is a parking area outside for quite a few cars but I think this is shared with neighbouring bed and breakfast places and bars. There are other parking areas close by and on street parking is allowed close by.

Quite a few bars within walking distance and also a taxi rank. You could make this part of a whole evening out in a very senic village.

This opticians combines all that you would expect of old fashioned service and courtesy with up to date equipment and goods.

The receptionist here is exceptionally helpful and professional. She has always been ever so good at putting my children at ease when waiting in the waiting area.

There is a good range of glasses - although I accept not the range you may find in a large optical superstore in a large shopping centre. However the range is very fair and appears to include lots of modern styles. The same can be said for thier range fo contact lenses. Obviously they don’t hold the range of the optical superstores but they do have a good range including coloured lenses, dily and monthly lenses.

Service we have received from the opticians themselves has always been first class. Again I must say that in realtion to my children they are second to none. I always worry when taking young children for this kind of eaxmination in case they can see but for whatever reason actually say the wrong thing. Alst time I went I ended up with the impression that in addition to being an optician he was also a child psychologist as he was able to tell when my child had just had enough and had started saying anything because she was bored. Thankfully he didn’t write out a prescription for glasses, instead he tried different testing techniques until he had the true picture. Very understanding, approachable and knowledgable.

I would certainly recommend them!

This store is open long hours and stocks a whole host of things.

Normal opening hours are 7am - 9pm although closing is slightly earlier at weekends.

Newsagency stocking a range of papers and magazines. Will order a particualr magazine in for you if you ask.

Also an offlicence selling a range of wines, beers and spirits. Many lines are kept in a chiller cabinet so it doesn’t matter if you just rush out at the last minute - your drink will be chilled.

Lots of food items. Bread is delivered there regualrly and is always reasonably fresh. There are freezers keeping basic lines such as oven chips, fish fingers, ice cream in addition to a range of speciality Indian frozen dishes.

In addition to the above you will also find cleaning materials, fire lighters and all sorts of things you would not expect to find in a small village store.

Service is good and the shop is always clean and tidy. Perhaps the greatest downfall is parking. The street is busy and quite narrow for the volume of traffic it takes. Local resident complain of people parking across theri drive ways - and rightfully so.

It is part of a chain which often runs very good offers. It is wroth always checking out the specials when you are there as there are some good deals to be had.

This is the latest take away to arrive in this village. We have only ever ordered pizzas but I understand that kebabs, burgers and other things are available too. They stock soft drinks.

A delivery service is available and orders generally arrive within a reasonable time and still piping hot.

If you choose to go in and order the shop is pleasantly done out. The decor is all new as the shop was refitted before recently opening. Whenever I pass it looks clean and fresh with pale coloured tiles and a beanch to sit while you wait.

The pizzas and garlic bread are good. Slightly greasy but then I do find that to be the case with most take away pizza places.

Prices are reasonable. By way of example, a large pizza and a large cheese garlic bread delieverd cost just over £12

There are quite a few veggie options in the pizzas and of course you can choose toppings to make up your own pizza. Large pizzas can be made half and half to share.

If you would like your pizza without cheese (as I sometimes do) they are happy to do tht for you too. Basically very accomodating. Well worth a try if you are in the area and fancy a pizza!