Vennels Cafe

You can't not think this place is lovely.

Of course as a tailor I love the treadle tables, but there's tea and cake to boot too. It does of course as a Durham institution get busy around meal times, but there are quiet patches where it's great for a cuppa and a catchup.

I've been here a few time, always for at least a scone, and things are trad tasty, and the staff are wonderful.

Went there for breakfast and found out all they don't really have a breakfast menu, no eggs at all.
People are all talking about their scones, but they are not even served warm...
Their jam was really good tho.

A nice cafe in Durham, hidden but cosy and well located. Great patio for summer days and nice upstairs room too.
They do good coffee and have lovely cakes (carrot cake, tea cake, walnut or lemon cake, scones, pavlova...) and quiches.

I had a cappucino and a slice of carrot cake (which was delicious) for about £4.

A great place for a break while visiting Durham !

Our regular cafe when we go to Durham; it always has seats, the location and atmosphere are great and the food is top notch.
The upstairs seating is simple but hugely atmospheric and reminiscent of an 18thC coffee house. The limited but lovely views of Durham rooftops from the windows are great - you can see the Castle if you crane your neck!
The food is great and has all you could wish for from soup to sandwiches and quiche and awesome cakes! Their banoffi pie is legendary.

Amazing café with really tasty lunches and good selection of cakes. Food is always very fresh and service is fantastic -- the staff are very friendly. Can be busy, but it is worth it!

Voted best cafe in Durham this year Vennels is run by dedicated and passionate staff. They bake their own bread and have coffee from the North East's premier coffee supplier, Pumphreys Coffee.


A really nice relaxing cafe in the centre of the city of Durham. A little hard to spot to start with but once you find it you'll never forget it!


A must if your visiting the sights of Durham.

I was recommended this cafe by a good friend who lived in Durham for 4 years. She said that they had the best cakes she'd ever had. I was not disappointed. The cakes I have tried here have all been amazing. The sandwiches, tea, coffees, etc are all also good, but the reason to go is definitely the homemade cakes.

Vennels has outdoor seating and a lovely upstairs room, so don't feel that you have to sit near the counter, which can be crowded. The upstairs room is even more charming than the downstairs.

Im not sure there is anything not to like about Vennels. The atmosphere is quaint, but there are multiple-stories (including one with a lovely fireplace) and an outdoor patio. The service was very helpful and friendly. The building and interior are adorable. The food...

... great! Today I had the homemade mushroom soup which was creamy without being pasty, deep, earthy mushroom flavor with nice chunks of mushroom and parsley. Came with a huge homemade roll which was perfect, crusty on the outside, soft and yeasty on the inside. Also had a great piece of ginger bread. Rich, spicy, flavorful, dense, ginger-y without being overpowering.

Love this place!

Lovely little place, off the Main Street.
Lovely staff. Cakes are lovely - although the carrot cake was more a fruit loaf cake.

Every little piece of Vennels is planned with love and it sure as hell tastes like it. They have perfected the art of cafe, from tea and divine cakes to a 10-star cappucino frothed at the world's most beautiful machine to homemade bread baked fresh daily.

Choose a nook or a cranny (upstairs, downstairs, outside) and hunker down with some serious sustenance.

And, the people that pour their heart and soul into this place are as delicious as every lovingly created item on their menu, so you can feel good about supporting your local business.