Durham's The Riverwalk
Visitors to Durham City have never had so much choice for cafes, restaurants and bars as they do now – and that’s thanks, in part, to The Riverwalk.
The £30million leisure development on the banks of the River Wear is helping to change the face of the city, bringing a host of big chains to Durham, while also housing quality independents.
Opened in 2019, it’s seen a wave of businesses set up there including a cinema, shops, cafes, restaurants and gym. Here’s what you can look forward to on a visit to The Riverwalk.
Food & Drink
With its riverside location overlooking Durham Castle and Cathedral, you’ll struggle to find a better view than at The Riverwalk.
Its food and drink outlets overlook the River Wear, giving you historic views, with the convenience of modern venues. They offer a melting pot of flavours from sushi to jerk chicken and everything in-between.
Start your day at local independent coffee chain Biz-R Coffee House who’ve built up a loyal following with their excellent service, coffees, sandwiches and cakes.
Sweet tooths are also in for a treat at the new Maple Patisserie, which specialises in coffees and pastries made from locally-sourced ingredients.
Take your tastebuds on a trip to the Far East with Nudo Sushi Box who offer some of the best sushi, sashimi, noodles, platters and bubble teas in the area.
If tapas is more your thing, El Pincho offers a great selection of small plates in picture-perfect surroundings.
Durham Sausage Company, meanwhile, has its roots firmly in Durham, producing all the delicious sausages and burgers on site in the butchery.
Or, why not cosy up at Cosy Club with its stunning river views and quirky decor which you can enjoy over a menu of classic dishes?
For a bit of everything, try The Food Pit and its excellent collection of international cuisines, craft beer and live music.
The Curious Mr Fox also has much to offer with its four rooms and stylish interiors that are perfect for any Instagram feed.
At the other end of the complex, Turtle Bay is a lively addition to The Riverwalk with its 40 different rums, reggae beats and jerk chicken, among other Caribbean classics.
Fans of Chinese and Asian cuisine won’t want to miss InShanghai, a lounge bar and grand buffet restaurant offering all-you-can-eat dining.
Thai River is also a popular choice, thanks to its traditional Thai dishes and flavours, all served in stylish surroundings.
For cocktails with one of the best views of the city, whether day or night, head to the historic Old Toms, a quirky gin bar housed in a 16th century building which offers a huge array of drinks with no less than 250 varieties of gin, as well as excellent meat and cheese boards.
Leisure
The Riverwalk doesn’t just have any cinema, it has an ODEON Luxe cinema where visitors can enjoy reclining seats, cocktails and top-notch sound and picture quality while watching the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
The cinema’s six screens offer a total of 403 padded and reclining seats each with their own table and three times the leg room of an average picture house. Prices start from £6.75.
For all your fitness needs, Result Fitness Durham is a well-equipped gym offering personal training and fitness classes. It even has a Glute Lab, Durham’s only glute-specific training facility.
The Riverwalk also has two car parks with Car Park 1 open 7am-6pm and Car Park 2 open 24 hours. Prices start from £1.80 for up to two hours.
Shopping
How about grabbing a bite to eat on Saddler Street (leading up to the Cathedral)?
There’s plenty of shopping to be had at The Riverwalk from buying, selling and exchanging technology and entertainment products at CEX to bagging a bargain at Poundland.
Get a fresh trim at Chaps Barbers, a traditional barbers offering an excellent walk-in service or treat your nails to a new look at Riverwalk Nail & Beauty who offer acrylics, gel nails, manicures and pedicures. You can also pick up some great beauty and health products, at a bargain price, at Savers.
Scoop Durham, meanwhile, is an excellent initiative. It’s an entirely student-run, non-profit shop that sells dried and artisan food, household goods and handmade jewellery, all plastic free at affordable prices.
If you’re in need of a sweet snack make sure to check out It’s All About The Cake, a family-run dessert shop offering a delicious array of treats, such as topped waffles, freshly-baked cookie doughs, milkshakes, teas, coffees and more, for sit-in or take away.
Practical services are also available with branches of Santander, Timpson and iFix, an independent, family-run smartphone and tablet repair business who are Apple certified.
