Vennels Cafe

Location and History of Vennels Cafe

Located off Saddler’s Street just up from the Durham Marketplace and through a winding alleyway, is Vennels Cafe.  It is a cozy and historic cafe in a 16th century building. It is said that mustard originated from part of the building. In 1720, Mrs. Clements of Durham created her mustard recipe here, initially, sharing it with her neighbours and then, eventually King George 1st!

Interior and Accessibility

The cafe is accessible through a small courtyard with outdoor seating. To get there from Saddler’s Street, you can choose one of two entrance alleys. These are very thin and a person might not be able to fit their wheelchair through. Inside you’ll find a very homely atmosphere, with classic and varied wooden furniture, retro signs and quirky decorations. Upstairs (with stair only access), you’ll find two interconnected rooms which continue the atmosphere you walked into downstairs.

Food and Drink at Vennels Cafe

The refreshments are cooked fresh for you here. Breakfasts, soups, toasties, paninis, jacket potatoes and more, are all on the menu. Furthermore, if you would like a drink, you can choose from all manner of coffees, teas, soft drinks, juices and alcohol is also available. Additionally, they provide gluten free options as well as a dairy free cake and you can get oat milk rather than dairy.

The Toilets

Unfortunately, there are no disabled toilets on site, with the only toilets available on the second floor via a rather small passage. They are quite dimly lit, with dark green wood panels and classical sinks continuing the theme of the rest of the cafe.

Find out more about Vennels Cafe

Why not drop in before or after your trip to Durham Cathedral?