5 of County Durham and Darlington’s most unique bars

County Durham and Darlington host an assortment of distinct bars that have gimmicks catering to all palates.

Take a look at the five local venues that provide a different drinking experience.

The Vault, E Row, Darlington, DL1 5PN.

Seamlessly blending the classic and the contemporary, The Vault is a prohibition-inspired speakeasy bar.

Inside The Vault, Darlington (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

With live singers and 1920s couture, the doors of The Vault are like entering the pages of The Great Gatsby.

A sign in the Darlington bar reads “welcome to the roaring 20’s” but with a few rules, including “dips, sharpers and grifters – leave your work outside” and “there are no limits on drinks if you can hold your liquor.”

The Curious Mr Fox, 35A, The Riverwalk, County Durham, DH1 4SL.

Located next to the River Wear, The Curious Mr Fox offers bottomless brunch, afternoon tea and Sunday lunches.

But what really makes the bar shine is its vibrant décor, scaling across multiple different rooms.

The Ivy Room features a spirited array of flowers trailing across the wall, with a distinctly bold colour palate.

The Ivy Room inside The Curious Mr Fox, Durham (Image: JIM SCOTT)

Whilst more refined, The Oyster Room hosts a stylish and sleek design, featuring a rich mixture of blue and gold.

Both rooms, as well as their The Foxes Club, are all available to hire out.

Tin of Sardines, 18 Elvet Bridge, Durham, DH1 3AA.

A bar that might be just as big as a tin of sardines, the venue epitomises a small but mighty feel.

Shelves stacked high with more than 100 bottles, Tin of Sardines in Durham offers everything from a classic London Dry to a 47 botanical black forest gin in the Monkey 47.

Durham's smallest bar, The Tin of Sardines (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

With an extending outside area, Durham’s smallest gin bar may be a top spot this summer.

The Market Tavern 27 Market Place, Durham, DH1 3NJ.

While hosting a classic pub style, what makes The Market Tavern unique is its complicated but compelling history.

In the 19th century, the Council Committee of Durham declared the water in the market unfit for human consumption, meaning customers were more likely to quench their first with the ales of the Tavern.

The Market Tavern, Durham (Image: JULIE GRIFFITHS/NORTHERN ECHO CAMERA CLUB)

Years later in 1865 the venue was renamed The Market Hotel and by 1871, the Durham Miners Association formed there.

By 1940, it was the only remaining pub in the market, and now honours its history by providing a selection of the nation’s most popular ales and branding under the moniker The Market Tavern.

Recommended reading:

• Seven lost pubs and clubs of years gone by in Darlington and County Durham
• 'Welcoming' village pub wins regional award after wowing judging panel
• 156 pubs, bars and clubs in North East could face closure as profit warning issued

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ORB Ale & Whisky House, 28 Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7RG.

Offering a wide range of ales and unique draughts, ORB sits in the heart of Darlington town centre.

A constant rotation of exclusive ales and a fine range of single malt whiskies aim to fulfil the micro-pub’s mission to offer something to everyone.

The Orb on Coniscliffe Road, Darlington (Image: STUART BOULTON)

Some of the distinct pints available have included a hazelnut caramel mocha stout and a beetroot-flavoured pale ale!