It's a cosy traditional pub with friendly owners & staff. Our room was clean comfortable & quiet. The breakfasts and evening meals were excellent; really delicious home cooked grub and plenty of it. The pub well deserves it's great reviews and is locally famous for it's food. There's car parking and a bus service to Durham right outside the pub. We stayed 4 nights meeting up with local friends. Learned a lot about the industrial history of Cornsay Colliery. The fabulous Beamish Open Air Museum and the much lesser known but still incredible Ushaw Historic House & Chapels are both nearby and should be visited. Allow a full day for each in order to have a really good look round.

Could have done with a couple of hooks in the bedroom on which to hang coats but hardly a big deal.

From checking in to checking out the owners and staff were attentive at all times and nothing was too much trouble. The local patrons of the place were fantastic also and made us feel welcomed and we're so friendly to my son who is autistic that a couple gave him Newcastle United shirts and hoodie, while another couple came in especially just to sit and chat with us on an evening they usually would not attend. I honestly can't praise the Royal Oak enough. It is clean, comfortable and the food is absolutely fantastic 😍. Great value for money,Can't wait to return. Thanks Sonia and Ian for everything, I will bring my negligee next time 😀😀

There honestly was nothing to dislike.

I stayed at the Royal Oak Inn for one night with my dog. I didn't expect much from reading previous reviews. But I was delighted by my stay. Struggling to fault it - clean, comfy bed, little noise, friendly staff, lots of little extras (e.g. water, soaps) that were a lovely touch. Such great value for money. Breakfast was included in the stay but I being gluten free I didn't expect to be catered for. However when checking in I was asked if I had any dietary requirements for the breakfast.

If I had to be picky only a few things come to mind when trying to fault The Royal Oak Inn. One would be parking - the listing described it as having ample free parking however this was on street but we did not struggle to find a space nearby. The door leading downstairs and out of the property is alarmed between 11pm and 8am so something to keep in mind if you're traveling with a dog like I was.

we have stayed here before - third time infact. it's a great little place that delivers on all levels. the hosts sonia and ian are great, friendly and helpful, our room was a large double with ensuite, plenty of storage, tv and kettle, toiletries were provided. breakfast was excellent, well cooked and good size portions and good assortment of cereals, juices, yoghurts etc. we dined every night and the food was again excellent, home cooked and tasty and portion sizes were amazing and price point was very reasonable. all in all a great place to stay, with excellent hosts and staff - made our stay very relaxed and comfortable.

having to come home :) there was nothing we didnt like. we were actually there during a heat wave and yes the room was very hot and a fan would have been great - but how often does a heatwave hit in the uk so not an issue.

Excellent cooked breakfast, set me up for the day, in a spacious restaurant area. The shower cubicle was an ample size in a well proportioned bathroom. The bed was large and comfortable, the television well placed and easy to use with a good desk underneath and a comfy armchair. Just what was needed after a long drive. A bonus was looking out of the window in the morning onto a paddock over the road and seeing a couple of grazing horses, just like I do when I look out back at my house in Scotland.

I'm going to sound like a Trip Adviser twonk for saying this but the bath towel was ever so slightly scratchy. There I've said it and I already regret mentioning it.

Just a really nice, friendly atmosphere, the room was really nice,with an exceptional shower,not a miserable drip. The food was really good ,fish n chips were lovely ,not a scabby breaded frozen fish,fresh well battered with home cut chips. It was quiet and in a rural location. The staff and owners were really nice and fun to be around, and the locals were friendly. This is a local pub, and it ticks all the boxes.If you are expecting a five-star luxury, then it's not for you, but if you appriecate that local pubs are the backbone of british village life and need as much support as possible. Then come and stay here ,I left feeling relaxed despite having to work the next day.

No issues

Left review on TripAdvisor. We fell upon The Royal Oak after a visit to Beamish this week & spent 2 nights dbb earlier this week. What a gem of a place! The food (&drink!) was amazing & so very reasonable. The menu is extensive & nothing was too much trouble for Sonya & her staff. Lovely breakfast too. The Inn is very popular with the locals & regulars, always a good sign.. We enjoyed many chats with them & took their advice to visit Raby Castle, Barnard Castle, Stanhope & Blanchard..Wow!! Lots to see in the area. The drive over the Weardale moors was something special. We certainly hope to return & enjoy Sonya's hospitality & wonderful food again!

2 separate beds spaced at suitable distance to keep warring children apart whilst being in the same room. Lovely big double bed. The welcome we got was wonderful. When we arrived it was an unassuming place, we even asked each other if we were sure it was a pub/inn and not a home. The evening meal was nice, and the breakfast was lovely. We even found a chocolate waffle which nobody was expecting. The flavoured milk in the minifridge for breakfast was a hit with the children. The bowl of strawberries really made my day. A lovely atmosphere in the evening and they had whisky at a not unreasonable price

The shower felt a little cramped for husband but it was very nice. I would have preferred a stairlift, but that is just my accessibility needs.

What a great little Pub/Restaurant, owned by a really friendly couple. Fairly extensive menu and everything was beautifully cooked. Attentive staff, without being asked every 5 minutes, if everything was alright. If you find a better value for money place than the Royal Oak you will be the luckiest person alive. Our bill for 7 of us, with most having 3 courses and several bottles of wine and a good few other drinks, was less than £40 per head. We go out as a group once a year and every single one of us wants to return.

Nothing

We loved that our hosts and staff made us feel really welcomed. The room was really large which enabled us to open our suitcases. The room was clean and the bed was a super king. All meals were cooked by Sonja the owner and breakfast was included in our room rate which included a ‘full’ breakfast. We loved staying at an independently owned pub and really the company of all staff and the locals. Traveled to Durham by bus which stopped outside the Royal Oak Great value for money.