This hotel was previously the Aston Hotel which was basic but good for the price…read more I've been staying here for the last 2 nights and have been pleasantly surprised. The place has been refurbished throughout: new carpets, the bar area etc... There is also a room service menu too or you can order and go and collect. The staff are friendly and helpful.

This is a nice * country house hotel originally built a few hundred years ago. There is an annex…read morewith another 15 rooms which has been added about 20-ish years ago. The original rooms can be large with four-posters available, while the annex is more of a standard hotel room. I've found these rooms to have quite short baths so don't expect to stretch out if you're over 5'2" The hotel has free WiFi but other than the main area it is a bit flaky on reception and drops out quite a bit, cellular signals bounce off the stone too but outside it is a reasonable strength, all rooms have free-view. This is a pleasent hotel to stay in but it is the restaurant that makes it worth the drive when i'm working in the area. Hansards has 2 rosettes and has a fixed price 3 course dinner for about £19 with some suppliments for extras. This is well worth the money and I recommend you take the DBB rate when you book your stay, it works out cheaper. There is no pool or gym here but it would seem out of place if there were. I have given * rating as there is nother really outstanding about this hotel but it is well run with pleasent staff and a good restaurant, what more do you need when your working away from home but they do need to get the reliability of the WiFi sorted out. All of my collegues stay here too so that's a fair recomendation. X = You've gotta be kidding me XX = trying but not reaching the standard expected or advertised XXX = achieving the standards expected/advertised however high that might be XXXX = they're doing something special here, above expected standards of service XXXXX = WOW! you gotta go here!

There are a few things you need for a good stay in any hotel in my opinion…read moreFriendly welcoming staff Clean rooms Fresh bedding Peace and quiet Value for money Good food is a bonus However not only did this hotel tick all the boxes but it done so in the beautiful setting in which it stands Should I need to stay over this side of the country again for work, this will be my first port of call Stayed September 2014, travelled on business

Out in the country Headlam Hall is situated in beautiful grounds which are lovely to stroll around…read moreafter going to the health club or having a bite to eat in the restaurant. It is also home to a number of functions rooms, large and small, which are available for renting. It is a great venue for weddings and boasts a tremendous menu. The staff are always very friendly and it is a hot spot for locals and visitors.

I recently attended a wedding here and everything about it was lovely. The grounds are beautiful…read moreand made for fabulous photos, all the staff were friendly and attentive and the food, both at main reception and evening buffet was very good. Plan to visit for a meal soon.

The White Horse was saved from the threat of nearly closing and knocked down to make way for new…read morehomes. It was purchased by Mitchells & Butlers (Sizzling Pub Co pub) and totally transformed. It is not only a hotel but a successful pub which seems to have built much of the new business around food trade. It reopened with its new smart look and now offers decant pub grub for reasonable prices. With it been owned by a chain the food is clearly chain type food with it's snazzy well planed menus to suit all tastes and with everything looking perfect but like most chains it does lack from a chef ran kitchen rather than everything from packets or the freezer but in general the quality of the food meets customers expectations. They offer a number of meal deals very much like the likes of Witherspoons. Overall Good value, smart decor, clean, friendly staff with fair price / chain type food

The White Horse Hotel has recently been renovated inside and though I have not had the pleasure of…read morestaying in the hotel section I have been to the restaurant and it was a very enjoyable experience. The food arrived in very good time and was delicious. The chocolate brownie almost defeated me because it was so massive I nearly didn't finish it. The interior is now beautiful and now has the appearance of a swanky restaurant. I would highly recommend dining at this place to anoyone. The small complaint I had was that the music was a tad loud but that us nothing really.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS…read more My friends and I visited here recently and if I could give it no stars I would. We booked months in advance requesting few stairs as possible due to mobility problems and they put us at the top of four flights of stairs! The room was filthy, window latch was broken, stuffy, no air conditioning, no toiletries not even soap, no bath mat and a blind that wouldn't go down. Plain sheets in bed which made us itch. Advertised as disabled facilities. Believe me it is not disabled or accessible friendly at all. Cobbled path and everywhere there are steps. Apparently the suites are beautiful but that's it. The superior rooms are bugger than the standard rooms but still as scruffy with threadbare carpets and chairs and cobwebs everywhere. Breakfast is limited to one item of each for your cooked breakfast and you have to ask for tea/coffee which is lukewarm and toast. Don't ask for early wake up calls they call you two hours early and then accuse you of lying about it actually shouting at you in front of other customers. The 'spa' is a rundown jacuzzi with uncovered wires hanging out of the wall, ceiling and walls coming away and a small cold pool. There is a place to lie on lounges which is also dirty and you can lie and look out of grime laden windows. No food or drink available to buy here either. No signage to show you around the hotel or any helpful instructions from the staff either so watch you don't fall down the step like we did if you brave this hovel sorry hotel. No use in complaining either because the owners are more interested in money than fulfilling the services that they should have provided. We were pleased we ate out when we were there and even the local taxi driver told us he would never eat there let alone stay there - visit The March Hare 10 mins away it's lovely. The only saving grace is the spa treatments well worth it and the staff are lovely. Yes the bridal suite may be lovely but your guests will probably hate you if they are unlucky enough to stay there and don't have any disabled or anyone with mobility problems they will probably end up in a & e. Not only wasted our money but our friends too who had to complain and get moved there's times before she was put in the right room and she was staying four nights! Save your money and your health go somewhere else! Would hate anyone else to have the same experience, though judging by the reviews they already have

As of October 2014, The Mowden Pub is under new management and has been refurbished. As someone…read morewho's been visiting the pub on and off for 20+ years I can say, hand on heart, this is the best thing that has ever happened to the Mowden. The new owners have managed to refurbish the pub whilst keeping a lot of what made the The Mowden "The Mowden". Whilst still a pub, the emphasis is now on the food and what a pleasant experience it is. All the food seems fresh and is rather tasty. The staff are helpful and pleasant and the atmosphere is just right for a nice family meal or a romantic meal for two..if you can get a table (so ring ahead and book one). Whilst there isn't a huge choice of dishes on the main menu, there are special daily dishes and certain nights cater to certain meal types along with all the other pub activities you'd expect. Drink wise however, I'm not sure what to think. One one hand they have some nice ales and beers now but on the other they got rid of some of my favorite brands in the change over. Regardless, if you've never been or not been in sometime, now is the time to visit and enjoy a newer nicer Mowden in every sense!

great place for an afternoon pint or to watch the footy (i'm not a footy person but if you are then…read morewell done to you). the foods also great, two bowls o chips, yummy! not such a great place for a night out as its a good walk to anything else.

While the food is good and the service efficient, neither are especially remarkable, for it's the…read moresame kind of fare as you can get at a 'pub lunch' in many other similar establishments. Where the 'Gretna Green' scores points is its 'child friendliness'; children's portions are available and a play area is provided, if required. Another factor is price if there are many of you, their 'meal deals' provide a substantial saving. So, naturally, the place was bustling not crowded. But, that was no problem; the food still arrived reasonably quickly. And, there was a more than adequate car park.

On the main road between Darlington and Aycliffe; The Gretna Green is a popular pub which is…read moreusually busy. It seems to attract a range of people and there are often groups of adults making the most of the 2 for 1 meals menu. This offer is all day every day and means that you can take advantage and grab a cheaper steak or mixed grill. Another great feature of the Gretna Green is that there is a Wacky Warehouse and small outdoor play area for children so weekend days sees a lot of young families. There is also a small children's menu with the usual popular kids meals. There is plenty of parking and is easy to see from the road. All in all it is nothing flash but very typical of this type of chain.

Had my wroks Christmas PArty here. Thoroughly enjoyed it, However the food was not to good, and the…read moredrinks were a bit pricey, apart from that though, I cant complain and enjoyed my night!!!

Had a great night on Friday for our work's xmas party. The comedians were hilarious, food wasn't…read moregreat but you expect that at these type of xmas nights. Room was tastfully decorated and everyone seemed to have a good night