The Shoes

What a miserable place this is, after arriving in the crowded bar with my bags, I was told to wait whilst the owner came down to check me in, after 10 minutes he never arrived so the bartender left the bar unattended to take me up several flights of very steep stairs to the bedroom on the very top floor, heaven knows what would happen should there be a fire! The beds are about 18” off the floor and very uncomfortable, everything in the room was cheap & grubby and a ‘flatscreen tv’ offered was so small you struggled to watch anything from the bed opposite! I was told the latest breakfast was at 0830 and this was served by the owner who didn’t even engage in any conversation other than a few grunts, the food was actually good but after I went back to my room I was rudely told after a knock at the door that I had to be out of my room, it was 3 minutes after their early check out time of 10.30. Overall it is a shabby place I wouldn’t ever stay at again, I heard it won the four in a bed tv competition, how, I will never know, maybe the other places must have been dreadful in comparison. Before writing this I read other reviews and came across someone that had a similar experience to me, so my experience is not a one off!

This is a no frills accommodation but they do everything really well. Room was big, clean and had all you need. The cooked breakfast was also great. Amazing value at £45 b&b. Would definitely stay again. You can also park right outside and the pub below keeps its beer really well.

I stayed at The Shoes for two nights with a friend to explore Durham and the surrounding area, Last week. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay,room was clean and comfortable breakfast was amazing! Debbie the barmaid was so lovely nothing was too much trouble, in fact all of the people we met at the pub were very nice and friendly. Would highly recommend!

Excellent value for 2 x twin rooms, rooms nice and clean and spacious. Good breakfast and decent sized dishes for cereal. Good service at breakfast too . Good selection and well kept beers in pub below

My stay in July 2023 was the last of multiple visits over the three years my son was at university in Durham. I have enjoyed staying at the Shoes many times due to the friendly staff, good location and quiet rooms. Billy, Debbie and other staff are very welcoming and the breakfast is excellent. It is easy to park by the side of the pub, there is a handy mini supermarket and also a garage with two electric chargers close by. Thank you and if I visit Durham in future will happily return there.

Just had a very comfortable and welcoming stay at the Shoes. The room was warm with lots of space for two friends. In spite of being on a busy road it was very quiet. It was among the cleanest properties I have ever stayed. The breakfast was delicious...very generous, had to cut out a couple of items after the first day. Landlord and landlady kind and helpful.

Just spent one night at the shoes bed and breakfast can't talk highly enough about this gem of a find. Very friendly and helpful room immaculate and cosy full English breakfast with everything you could want was delicious within easy reach of Durham City would definitely recommend no complaints whatsoever will definitely be back 😀

We arrived at the shoes around 10pm and were shown to our room, which had a dusty/dry air feel to it, but due to the time were too exhausted. Room was shabby and curtains closed, windows closed and the other broken.. bathroom is not private, you need to leave the room and cross the landing to the bathroom, which in theory anyone can walk up and use (towels on the floor) and toilet did not flush properly. Asked about when breakfast was, only to be told it wasn't included.. despite my booking 'clearly' stating it was provided. The argumentative, rude and disrespectful owner (Billy) started repeating it was not included (how does that help resolve the issue?), which only frustrated me as a guest. Absolutely no understanding towards the clear booking we had with the shoes.. he even had the audacity to say we will cancel your booking if you want, which would leave us without a place to stay at 10pm! Whatever you read about this place (and do not be lured in by the appearance on four in a bed), the shoes is ran by a terrible person in Billy and is very much a cheap looking establishment. 100% avoiding in the future and would ask anyone considering staying here to think twice. This is a genuine review, so the other people reviewing it with 4/5 stars clearly saw something that was not there.