Image courtesy of Rachel Claire
Located in Toronto, in Bishop Auckland this is a restaurant bar with nine letting rooms, a nice little hotel just sitting looking over Weardale across from Witton-Le-Wear and just a few minutes’ drive from the town of Bishop Auckland. The building appears as an old Victorian style house with visible black beams and white-coloured walls outside.
It sits right next to the roundabout of the A689 Addison Road, with the main entrance facing towards the roundabout. When you go inside, you are greeted with a warm ambience and a large room with rustic-style décor and the main bar is just to the left immediately as you enter. There are some tables to the right. You then continue walking ahead passed the kitchen serving area and you will find more tables for large families to sit at and then you will enter the conservatory room. The conservatory is a large glass-roofed space with more tables inside. The conservatory also looks out onto the newly built beer garden and outside terrace. The terrace is built from timber and includes a large square space with outdoor string lighting stretched zigzagging overhead.
The lodge was recently refurbished in 2016, and now awaits planning permission for up to nine letting rooms so people will be able to book accommodation in the Bishops Lodge soon- watch this space!
This bar/restaurant has a lot to offer in terms of experience and fine-quality food and drink. Their menu is recently updated, and the entire building has undergone refurbishment with it’s latest development being the extended outside terrace.
Its location is perfect for people who live in the area, it is just a 5-minute drive from the Bishop Auckland town and is walking distance from the Toronto estate. It is also five minutes from Howden-le-Wear and 10 minutes from Crook. The restaurant is on the doorstep to the countryside of Weardale and is round the corner from other visitor attractions including Low Barns nature reserve, Witton Castle and Kynren. A perfect place to stop for a drink before going to see a show at Kynren.
The outside terrace, which has just recently been built, is south-facing and gets all the sunlight throughout the day and on an evening, you can watch the sunset to the west over the horizons of Weardale- making it the perfect spot for an evening meal and/or drink during the summer season.
Their food and drink menus are very extensive and not too expensive either for what you can get. Their menu includes starters, main course and sandwiches as well as a kid’s menu. Desserts are changed all the time so there is always something different each time you visit. You can get everything from a wide variety of different cuisines including curries, lasagne, seafood and good old fish and chips. There is also Sunday lunch served on Sundays. So there’s something for people of all tastes and preferences. The menu also includes light bites like sandwiches and side dishes. Drinks are also available to order from the bar, but they have a full wine list available separately where you pick and choose some of the finest wines possible. Hot drinks are also available, and you can buy a free tea or coffee to have with a meal anytime Monday to Friday.
Click here to view their menu.
They also have themed nights on different nights throughout the week, including curry nights and steak nights. There are very good deals on meals for two as well. They also do special offers for kids during school holidays. Click here for more information.
People can also hire out rooms in the lodge for special occasions and functions including birthday parties and other celebrations.
The Bishops Lodge bar and restaurant is quite accessible and easy for people of all needs to access and enjoy spending time there.
Wheelchairs can easily access the building via the front entrance, there is also a ramped walkway going onto the outside terrace at the back. However, getting from the conservatory to the outside terrace does involve some steps, but there are also handrails for support for people with walking struggles. Inside the building, the floorspace is clear of obstructions and is a flat even surface too.
Parking for the restaurant is to the side of the building. You turn off one of the exits of the roundabout to drive into it. If you’re driving to the restaurant from Bishop Auckland, it is the first exit on the left and you drive right passed the building entrance as you come off the roundabout. The car park is on a hill unfortunately, but it is a very short distance from the building entrance and not too steep. The outdoor terrace is also right next to the car parking spaces so you can just walk straight onto the terrace from your car and vice versa. Parking is free of charge and there are no speedbumps or other obstructions to make walking difficult.
The menu is very diverse and takes account of people of all dietary needs and requirements. Allergy information can be found by asking a member of staff and meals do include vegan and gluten-free options. For people who are on a diet, there are smaller portions and healthier options available to choose from and calories are also mentioned in the menu details. All food is very good quality, and you can ask members of staff for more information on how food is cooked and prepared.
The nearest bus stop is a 3-minute walk from the Bishops Lodge. The bus can be caught from Bishop Auckland town centre. People living in Crook and Howden-le-Wear and even Hunwick can also access a running bus service to this location.
The pub is a family-friendly atmosphere, and it never gets over busy or noisy. The busiest times are typically weekends and school holidays and most evenings around teatime when people are having dinner out. We recommend booking tables in advance. Most people go for meals out but sometimes people visit for a few drinks. Due to its location, it never gets too busy.
The Bishop Lodge allow dogs kept on a lead. They also allow guide dogs.
There is a disabled toilet located passed the bar area and before the conservatory next to the ladies and gents. You can ask a member of staff for assistance if need be.
We hope this listing has been helpful in helping you find restaurants and bars with accessibility in County Durham. We have recommended lots of other bars and restaurants in Durham and Bishop Auckland, click here to view other listings.
Booking isn't essential but we recommend booking in advance if you are planning on visiting during weekends and/or school holidays.
Please check website for more information. Food is served 12pm until 8.30pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm until 4pm on Sundays.
Yes, you do not need to buy a meal every time you visit, the bar is always open during opening times.
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