Food & Drink

Vennels Cafe

Long-established cafe and tea room hidden up a narrow vennel off Saddler Street, set within a historic multi-floor building.

Saddlers Yard, off Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NP Visit website @vennelsdurham Facebook

About Vennels Cafe

Vennels is tucked away up an alley, or vennel, off Saddler Street, reached by a passageway near Waterstones on the route towards the cathedral. Housed in a historic building, it spreads over three floors and includes a heated, canopied courtyard, giving it a quirky and characterful feel that regulars have valued for years.

The cafe works as a traditional tea room, known locally for freshly baked scones and its banoffee pie alongside light lunches and a full range of hot drinks. Its hidden location is part of the appeal, offering a quieter retreat just steps from one of the busiest streets in the old city. The generous seating over several levels makes it a dependable spot even when the centre is busy with visitors.

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