This guide is aimed at the visiting fan - with a good choice of pubs, places to eat, accommodation and also other things to do while in town. Details about the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena and travel to it are on our stadium page. We try to update it when we can and are always pleased to receive comments, suggestions, corrections and additions. E-mail us Pubs Darlington has plenty of choice for a pre-match pint or two - with prices also pleasantly reasonable and most places fan-friendly. The pubs in the town centre are recommended - around half an hour's walk or a bus ride away. But there are a few others closer to the stadium, and also "traditional" pubs near the old ground, Feethams. See also our Stadium Page for directions to the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena from town and the station. Our unofficial star ratings are "The Elseys" - with recommended pubs being given this symbol Average pubs, not known for their real ale, but may be handy for the ground get this Ones not on our list, maybe worth avoiding, or going to if you're not fussy about your type of beer. Quite a few home fans stick to old haunts and also have a pint at the new stadium. At the stadium, The Tinshed (old Bar 66) and Corner bars welcome both home and well-behaved away fans, while there are concourse bars for away supporters in the South Stand. Market square/town centre Personal preferences - and recommended to well behaved away fans - are the town centre pubs, starting in the market square - look for the distinctive clock to find it.   On one side is The Pennyweight , quite a family-orientated pub these days with pretty good ales and lunches. There are usually a couple of real ales on, including Black Sheep. There's a Darlo shirt on the wall inside the lounge, and this has traditionally been popular with fans in a low-key sort of way. 11am-11pm Mon-Sat, 12pm-10.30pm Sun. Across the market square and through the Saturday stalls is The Hole in the Wall, which is smaller, friendly and does excellent Thai food (served 12pm-2pm Mon-Sat, plus a restaurant upstairs Thurs-Sat 6.30pm-9.30pm), as well as a decent pint of Magnet and Greene King IPA. There's also a Sky Sports screen there. 11am-11.30pm Mon-Thurs, 11am-midnight Fri-Sat, 12pm-11.30pm Sun. Further up from the market square is Avalon, Blackwellgate, which I'd give a wide berth to - its latest facelift (it used to be called The Falchion) seems to have ripped the heart and soul out of the place. Opposite on the corner of Grange Road is The Hoskins 43 Blackwellgate, formerly known as Humphrys, quite a large Smith & Jones pub that's part of the Barracuda pub chain chain. It has had a recent refit, with wooden floor - a bit soulless though. John Smith's and Caffreys on tap and Sky Sports on the big screen and seems to be one of the few bars showing Sky Premier Plus.   Those exploring further up into town can also find a Yates 30 Skinnergate opposite the Wetherspoon's pub The Tanners Hall, 63-64 Skinnersgate (see below). In the same street is Bar Rise, the former "Eccentric Inventor," but is more of an evening haunt. The Red Lion, Priestgate is down a side street around the corner from the Cornmill shopping centre and usually has Marston's Pedigree on, as well as Whitbread Trophy, Caledonian and Boddington's. Cask Marque-rated, it's busy and unfussy, with everything you'd expect from a local pub in the town centre, while still attracting the office crowd during the week. Further up the north end of town, towards the Odeon is The Railway Tavern 8 High Northgate which has a guest ale on, and is also a rockers' pub on a Friday night with regular live music in the bar. Real ale - town centre A couple of DAFTS with Stedders outside No 22 For real ale fans, Number Twenty 2, 22 Coniscliffe Road takes some beating. "22's" has an excellent selection of beers and wines, with a pub grub and a separate canteen area during the day. It was voted the Darlington CAMRA's pub of the year and town pub of the year for 2008. Regular featured beers include Hambleton's Bull Premium, White Boar and a stout, but up to six others change fairly regularly. Popular with an over 30s crowd at night and nicknamed Jurassic Park by those who get squiffy on two Barcadi Breezers. The bar offers 20 bottled British and continental beers (including an alcohol-free range), and no spirits or silly alco-pops. No TVs, games machines, music, a "fine for charity" for use of mobile phones (which are requested to be on "silent"). Despite or perhaps because of the restrictions, this is a relaxed place for beer and conversation. Open from 11am-11pm Mon-Sat, 12pm-10.30pm Sundays. Click for map There was some doubt as to its future, but thankfully The Quaker is in safe hands - and Darlington CAMRA pub of the year again for 2011 Along with No 22, this has been in recent years a regular Darlington CAMRA Pub of the Year and is the 2011 title holder. After a while when its future was in some doubt, the bar has new owners Brian and Garry, who have maintained its great choice of ales, while also giving the upstairs lounge something of a new look . This quirky and hospitable bar has certainly been worth the trip down an alley-way for tickers, rockers and DAFTS. The Quaker House, 2 Mechanics Yard, off High Row, entrance next to Binns has a small real ale bar downstairs. For a good few years they've had a choice of 10 hand-pulls, including the Quaker Ghost Ale regular - the spirits don't just come in bottles at this bar. 11am-midnight Mon-Sat, 12pm-12 midnight Sunday.Click for map The Half Moon, 130 Northgate (opp Gladstone St), Darlington DL1 1QS. A very welcome addition to the Darlo real ale scene, this is a nano-brewery pub, serving its own beer and a strong and changing selection of up to seven guest ales, as well as bottle sales. It's also a friendly, locals pub, just off the town centre - a short walk under the subway from the main shopping street. It also serves bar snacks and has Yorkshire darts!DAFTS recommended. The Britannia, 1 Archer St near Bondgate is a pub out on its own a little on the other side of a roundabout in the town centre but another real ale favourite. As well as the Cameron's Strongarm and John Smith's Cask, there are four other guest ales on. A friendly, honest-to-goodness locals' pub. Not spoiled by loud music (there is Setanta/Sky on fairly quietly), so great to pop into for a pint and a cosy chat. Darlington CAMRA town community pub of the year 2008. 11am-11pm, Mon-Wed, 11am-12 midnight Thurs-Sat. 12pm-10.30pm Sunday.Click for map Ted and Brian in The Brit after another postponed match. The website for the Darlington CAMRA branch includes the Darlington Drinker newsletter, which has the latest real ale and pub news for the area. The branch also hosts beer festivals at Darlington Arts Centre in the Spring and Autumn. The next one is 17-19th March 2011. Another is The Old English Gentleman, 99 Bondgate (above),which is the old Tap and Spile. Not checked this for a while since it reverted to its old name. Next door to the Tap n Spile is the Old Yard Tapas Bar, which is also CAMRA recommended (and won the summer season town pub award in 2009) and is an alternative at lunchtime - especially if you're after something to eat. It has recently expanded into an adjoining premises, so the bar area is now sizable. There was a choice of four real ales, as well as a good place to eat though - with a Spanish-Greek mix! Sky 11am-11pm, Mon-Sat, 12pm-10.30pm Sun. DAFTS recommended   Another option and handily placed for the shuttle and service buses to the new stadium is The Glittering Star, Stonebridge (pictured above), a three-roomed pub between the river and the rear entrance of the Cornmill shopping centre. It has the full range of Sam Smith's beers, for as little as £1.22 a pint, which is the cheapest real ale in the town. Personally, I'd give it a miss and try some of the town's other real ale pubs. 11am-11pm Mon-Sat, 12pm-10.30pm Sun.   There's the usual JD Wetherspoon's choice and prices at The Tanners Hall, 63-64 Skinnersgate (pictured above), which is a barn of a place, but which usually has three or four guest ales on, prices usually between £1.35 and £1.70 a pint. 9am-12.30am Sun-Thurs, 9am-1am Fri-Sat. A vast, modern Wetherspoon's/Lloyd's No 1 pub is the William Stead, Crown Street, which opened in August 2006. A limited range of real ales - such as Pedigree, Directors etc. The displays of vodka and wine bottles behind the bar give you the picture. Open from 9am, breakfasts from 8.30am and a good choice of food other times. The lights go down and the music turns up after 6pm. It's named after an editor of the nearby Northern Echo, who was lost on the Titanic. Go in there, and you get that sinking feeling... Near/on way to the stadium The Copper Beech, Neasham Road is a decent enough half-away house between town and stadium. A large pub with Sky, pool in two fairly large bars and a separate function room. Also has a few tables outside at the front. Has become a"football pub" for some home supporters, given the vicinity. The Tawny Owl, Neasham Road is the old Bit and Bridle pub, a quarter of a mile on the other side of Neasham Road/A66 island beyond the ground. One of the town's oldest buildings, now part of M&B's Vintage Inns pub/restaurant chain with a familiar, but decent choice of menu, including lighter bites. Bass and Magnet hand-pull and Tetley beer. A beer garden. 10am-12 midnight, Mon-Sun. From the town: Busters, 8-12 Yarm Rd Large-ish young 'uns pub - former live music venue. A bit shabby looking from the outside, serves Magnet. A bit of a "local's pub", shall we say, we've been advised, so suggested you give it a miss. Not recommended Royal Oak 13 Yarm Rd Tetley's pub (pictured left) is a few doors away opposite with car park. It's apparently had some renovations and now does home made food and also does B&B from £15, however again a bit of a "locals" feel, so perhaps not the hostelry of choice for the away fan. Friendly enough on our visit though. Pool table and music. The familiar trimuvirate of John Smiths/Magnet/Fosters. The Albion (pictured left) is a street corner midget pub in Yarm Road, a few doors down from Busters. The Hope 102 Yarm Rd - street corner medium size - John Smiths. The Wheatsheaf, 42 South Green - big stand-alone ex eatery - "full of brats" says our reporter, off Neasham Rd/St John's Terrace. The Grey Horse 100 yards away, on the corner of Neasham Rd, next to the East End CIA Club. John Smith's.11am-11pm Mon-Sat, 12pm-10.30pm Sun. The Greyhound (pictured left) Re-opened in September 2009, after being closed for 18 months. A few doors away from the Black Swan. In the "theatre district," between the town and station you can find The Black Swan a.k.a. The Mucky Duck. It seems to have a sign up which either says "new refurbishment" or "under new management" but to the untrained eye, not much seems to have changed! Near the station/Victoria Road/Old Feethams pubs Less than a minute's walk from the station, immediately left down Victoria Road is Hogans. It was famously claimed by The Sun a while back to serve the cheapest beer in Britain, at around 69p a pint, although we've spotted it as high as a pound! Prices are still pretty low, with Magnet and McEwans the main beers. A bit of a barn of a place, with the brickwork look inside and new woodwork after the makeover. There are usually bouncers on the door to watch for trouble, as it is also a magnet for fans of other clubs passing through to Boro and Newcastle who can't quite believe the price of the ale and a hassle-free environment. Pool table and Sky TV screens. Now personally I've always found this a little rough and ready with the lounge sometimes resembling the green room at ITV's Trisha programme (we can talk!) But one regular BigBDarlo disagrees and told us it's a friendly place, with little fear of bother due to the watchful security: "I've been drinking at Hogan's since it opened...exactly what an away fan is after. Cheap ale, good craic, next door to the railway station and a pub-full of football-loving Quakers." Just along the same road there's also The Speedwell (pictured right), usually full of home fans with cheap beer - the "Speedy" also has Sky and pool. Close to the old ground Feethams along this road is The Dalesman., which also does B&B. But our suggestion is to head for the town centre instead. Traditionally, Darlington Cricket Club at Feethams has also been a popular haunt for fans after the match, a short stroll around the pitch. It won the 2004 regional CAMRA club award and regularly has Magnet and a guest beers on, plus rolls and toasted sandwiches. 11am-11pm Mon-Sat, 12pm-10.30pm Sun. Country pubs If you want to explore and see something of the Durham and North Yorkshire countryside, there are some good pubs in the villages around Darlington and some driving in may prefer these than heading into town, now that the ground itself is on the outskirts. To the south west, standing out is The Crown at Manfield (01325 374 243), the sister pub of Number Twenty 2 in Darlington. It was voted Darlington CAMRA country pub of the year for the second year running in 2006 and has a usual range of White Boar, Village Brewer and Old Raby. It's a little off the beaten track, off the B6275 Click for map - but not much of a detour. The Chequers Inn at Dalton-on-Tees (01325) 721213, four miles from Darlo and a couple of miles from Croft-on-Tees (Take the exit at Reg Vardy's at the Blackwell roundabout). It takes its name for the nearby motor racing circuit. It's a Jennings pub with some good ales on, a roaring fire, and notably some fine food from a sizeable menu. You can eat in the bar or restaurant. The pub also does accommodation, £55 bed and breakfast for a double room. Click for map. On the A167 between Darlington and Northallerton is The Bay Horse, Great Smeaton, (01609 881 466), which is an 18th century inn. Click for map. Closer to Darlington, and also for real ale and not to get confused, there's The Bay Horse, 45 The Green, Hurworth (01325 720663), which was runner up in the local CAMRA awards and also serves food 12pm-2pm and from 6pm midweek. Click for map. In the same village - right on the North Yorkshire/Durham border- is The Otter and Fish, 1 Strait Lane, (01325 720019), meals served 12pm-2pm and from 5.30pm midweek, while the Emerson Arms is opposite in Church View, with a beer garden looking right onto the Tees. The pub is named after a mathematician, not the former Boro player, although you're more likely to see the latter around here than people who count on more than the fingers of one hand. Forget the Carlbury Arms at Piercebridge (four miles out of Darlington), unless you want to sit down for a meal, although it has a couple of real ales on. If around for the weekend, one of my favourites out in Teesdale, north west of Barnard Castle (on the B6277), is the wonderful Rose and Crown at Romaldkirk. Good real ales and the food (lunch and dinner) is wonderful. There are also plenty of good walks locally to earn yourself a fine meal at this gastro-pub. Darlington FC's stadium off Neasham Road is 1.5 miles from the town centre. For details go to our STADIUMS page To eat There are more coffee shops opening in Darlo, as the cafe society arrives, albeit a few years late. 16 Horsemarket is easy to find - it's right in the market square, next door to the Hole In The Wall, with tables outside in good weather, to have your frothy coffee. If your requirements are more butty-fied, close to the station, there are a handful of take-aways and cafes in Victoria Road down from the station, including the rather good Scotties Fish Bar, which does big and small sized portions and Rocky's 108 Victoria Rd for eat-in and take-away meals, snacks and all-day brekkies. On the corner is the Coronation Hotel, the cafe of which does brekkies and tea, and is another B&B option. For wonderful and cheap take-out pork pies, savouries and meat pies, look no further than Taylor's butchers, Skinnergate in the centre which is part of the town's fabric and once supplied the Darlington team in days of yore with pies for away trips! They not only supply hot pies and pasties in the ground, but also sell in their shop in town - very reasonable prices, and there are often queues outside the shop. A great snack here and worth stocking up for the trip home. There's also the indoor market cafe for savoury sarnie specialists for supplies of good pork pies, black puddings etc. Paul Prior recommends the excellent "high tea" shop, Coopers 28 Post House Wynd. On the way to the stadium There aren't exactly many places to eat on the approaches to the ground - there's Fish and Chips opposite Matalan in Neasham Road, a couple of general stores and a cafe, which is closed on Saturday's. There is the East End fish bar close to the Yarm Road junction and next to the Darlington East End social club. In Yarm Road itself, opposite The Albion pub is a decent sandwich bar which serves all day breakfasts in a bap and a range of sandwiches around £1.50. Town centre For the familiar and fast-food, there's the ubiquitous KFC 185-187, Northgate is a bit of a stroll, opposite the Odeon cinema. Macdonalds, 65-67 Northgate, is a short walk past the Burger King Cornmill shopping centre. Pizza Hut 4-6, Horsemarket and the more upmarket chain Pizza Express 1-2 Skinnergate (01325 488771) are also represented. Those wanting a sit-down and something more organised after the match - apart from pub grub and the usual chains, there are a few town centre curry houses - our favourite, opposite the Civic Theatre - is Spice Garden (01325 369512), 112-114 Parkgate, which is also open at lunchtimes. The owner Abdul Karim is very welcoming and is always trying to add something different to the already vast menu. Superbly and delicately cooked dishes for all tastes. He also stocks bottled real ale, including Theakston's and Well's Banana Bread. Across the town centre is Reema at 18 Coniscliffe Rd (01325 383337) next to NumberTwentyTwo's specialises in modern Indian cuisine, delicately spiced. This place went through a bit of a trough a year or so ago but was back to its very best on our last visit - and word has obviously got around, so worth booking. An extensive menu with plenty of chef's specialities. A more recent opening is Café Spice at 19 Clarks Yard (01325 468 783, pictured right), down one of the town's Victorian alleyways - opposite Argos in Skinnergate if you're looking for it. Modern and stylish inside on two floors, the food was excellent on our visit - open 12noon-2pm and 6pm-11.30pm. Also worth trying is The Garden of India at 43 Bondgate. A place welcoming football fans who want a sit down pre-match meal is Crombies cafe bar and restaurant Open until 6pm in Tubwell Row (01325 464475). A Darlo institution - and celebrating its 70th anniversary - even the chef is a season ticket holder. Frederick Stehr, the owner, says he has lots of regular Darlo fans as customers, including one who's been coming up from London for every game for 20 years! A short walk from the station and opposite the Civic Theatre is the Phutawan Thai Restaurant, (94-96 Parkgate, 01325 361717) which is really excellent - with set meals from around £15 per person as well as a la carte, plus mouthwatering desserts (if you're still hungry). For good value, there's a Chinese buffet China Red 67 Gladstone St, off Northgate, which has an eat-as-much-as-you like/can, with food regularly topped up and never allowed to get cold. If you like Italian food, there's La Sorrentina restaurant along from the Civic Theatre (77 Parkgate), which is friendly but hectic and a brighter new decor, with fine food - and lots of it, with wine prices reasonable. Found along from the theatre. (Tel: 01325 467991). There's also a very busy modern Italian/Tex-Mex restaurant-bar Joe Rigatoni's (01325 464642) at the corner of Grange Road/Coniscliffe Road, which is OK - an odd ambience of background music and Sky Sports News on a plasma. For something different, there's a quite up market West Indian restaurant, Ochis, 30-32 Bondgate (Tel 01325 282675) which is excellent - as well as the likes of Jamaican jerk chicken and rice, there are choices of Mediterranean-style dishes, main meals from £6-15 and a choice of Caribbean bottled beers. Open for Sat lunch 12pm-2pm, from 6pm-11pm evening. If you've got time and like something different - there's the Old Yard Tapas Bar, which is also CAMRA recommended and has a great atmosphere - although the small bar area can get a little crowded at night for. Spanish and Greek cuisine. Another popular, recently-opened Spanish place is Sol Tapas, 28 Duke Street, (01325 467 000), on the walk up from Skinnergate towards the Arts Centre. Accommodation Moderate The Coachman Hotel, 135 Victoria Rd, (01325) 286116 is very close to the station, a well-run place, a different mix of sized rooms, which are fairly basically furnished - not all with bathrooms. From £37.50 to £49.50 per night (single) to £68.50 (double), with mix of en-suite and part en-suite. Discounts for party bookings. Decent breakfasts. If you want a quiet, early night it can be a bit noisy if there are functions on at weekends. The Cricketers, 55 Parkgate (01325) 381 897 (pictured right) is quite a reasonably-priced (last time we checked it was £30-40 single, £50 double B&B, triple room £70), medium-sized hotel with 15 rooms, roomy bar (Magnet/Smiths and Black Sheep), decent brekkie and evening meals, karaoke on Fridays and Sky Sports on TV in the bar. Popular with thespian folk from the nearby Civic Theatre - check out the Alvin Stardust and Grumbleweeds photos at reception! Residents parking at rear and late key available. Five minutes walk from station and 25 mins walk from stadium. See other B&Bs and hotels in: Smoothhound accommodation listings More expensive Blackwell Grange, Grange Rd, 0808 144 9494 or (01325) 509 955 is large three-star hotel - now owned by Forestdale Hotels - with grounds, golf course and health club. Leave the car and its a 20mins walk/five minutes drive from ground along on the A66. Popular with visiting clubs, especially those playing Boro. Around £95 per double room per night but two-nigh deals might be available for £120. Good restaurant, buffet-style breakfast. Hotel Bannatyne, Southend Avenue, singposted off Grange Road (01325) 365859. This hotel's history goes back to when it was the town house of the notable Quakers, the Pease family. It then became a Victorian convent school, which never quite shook off its past as an antique (and rather cold!) hotel in the 1980s. Since its takeover and expansion, it has become a well-run, up-to-date and far more comfortable place, which sits sympathetically with its Grade II listing. It has expanded to 60 rooms and added a function suite in recent years. Rates have risen a little recently, it's now £80 per room per night but still compares well in terms of comfort, price and service to others in the area. Very handy too for the town centre. A good in-house restaurant/bar, Maxine's, is popular with outside diners and has a range of well-presented dishes. It can get busy when weddings are booked. In the heart of the town centre is the Kings Head Hotel, 9-12 Priestgate, 01325 380222/Booking 0845 4566399, (near the Cornmill shopping centre). The three-star Victorian hotel is now owned by the Mercure chain and has been extensively refurbished and is competitively priced with comfortable rooms. Includes a bar and restaurant. Underground residents' carpark. Not too far from the stadium by car - if you're not too bothered about experiencing the town centre is the ubiquitous Premier Inn at Morton Park, DL1 4PJ, (08701) 977 300/(01325) 324 906 off the A66/A67 junction heading towards Darlington. In the same area, off Yarm Road/Barrington Way is a recently-opened Travelodge - with a Toby Inn attached. It's also accessible by Nos 11 or 12 bus from outside the station heading out of town (£1.60, a five minute walk from the No 11 stop)   Budget Arcadia Guest House 102 Victoria Rd, (01325) 461303 is a clean and pleasant digs, a short walk from the station towards the old ground Feethams. Other B&Bs in the area include The Dalesman Victoria Rd, (01325 486254) which was also popular for a pre-match drink with home fans in the Feethams era. Grange Guest House 171 Grange Rd, (01325) 380727 and The Argyll 57 Corporation Rd, (01325) 255003 The other side of the town centre is The Greenbank Hotel, 90 Greenbank Road, (01325) 462624, which has 27 rooms and B&B from £26-36 (single) to £46-75 (twin/double). There's also a small military museum and Nelson theme. Also doing a couple of rooms, right on the market square is the Boot and Shoe (01325) 287501 from £25 per night. Transport Taxis Station Taxis 01325 382222 1 AB Taxis 01325 463626 Anytime Taxis 01325 261727 Buses Arriva timetables Arriva: 01325 465252 or 0870 608 2 608 Stagecoach Details of service and shuttle buses to Darlington FC are on our stadium page. Airports Durham Tees Valley Airport is six miles east of Darlington on the A67. There are flights to Heathrow, Belfast and Aberdeen among others. Tel: 01325 332811. Bus service to town from the airport, taxis/car hire. Newcastle Airport has internal flights from Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff among others. You catch a Metro from the terminal directly to Newcastle central station and then a fast train to Darlington. Things to do Attractions include the Darlington railway museum at the North Station, concerts and exhibitions at Darlington Arts Centre, the town centre's Civic Theatre 01325 486 555 and sports activities at the Dolphin Leisure centre. Should you want it, there's an Odeon cinema in Northgate. Darlington is also a great base to explore some wonderful countryside - whether the north Yorkshire Moors or the Dales to the south. For more visitor information, call the Darlington Tourist Office, 13 Horsemarket (near the Hole in the Wall pub) on: 01325 388666. The railway station has a cafe with bar, sandwich/sweets stall, WH Smith (open until 5.30pm), a Royal Bank of Scotland cashpoint but no left luggage, annoyingly. There is limited long-stay parking at the Victoria Road entrance and short-stay parking at the main entrance. The taxi office and rank is to the right as you get off the train. There are plenty of banks in the town centre. A market town, Darlington has all the usual High Street chains for shopping and some little nooks and crannies amongst the old alms houses and alleyways. The Cornmill shopping centre has WH Smith and an HMV. The nearest bookshop is Waterstone's at the Cornmill entrance. Sainsbury is right next to Feethams - handy for away supporters to stock up on snacks or petrol for the journey south. You can find a zoom-able onlinestreet maps of the town. There's some basic information on the Darlington Town community website or the Darlington council website We'd be pleased to list any of your favourites or ones we've missed.. E-mail DAFTS Links/media Darlo weather Darlington CAMRA Darlington CC Visit Darlington Northern Echo The local morning newspaper, usually has a good match preview in the Saturday sports supplement Evening Gazette Boro-based paper, so less Darlo coverage but well written.