Working from home can be brilliant, but even the most dedicated home worker has days when the same four walls start to feel a bit too familiar. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scene, a good coffee, and a bit of background buzz to make the day feel more productive and more enjoyable.
With that in mind, and as it’s Stress Awareness Month, here are 10 County Durham venues worth trying if you fancy taking your laptop out for a while. It features a mix of cafés, hotels and hospitality-led venues across our amazing county, where you can settle in, enjoy your surroundings and get some work done at the same time.
1. The Tea Barn, Pity Me
The Tea Barn is the kind of place that makes working away from home feel easy. It’s welcoming, comfortable and well set up for taking your laptop, making it a great choice if you want somewhere relaxed where you can settle in with a drink and get on with your day.
2. Ramside Hall Hotel, Carrville
If you’re in the mood for a more polished setting, Ramside Hall is a great option. Swapping the kitchen table for somewhere spacious and stylish can make a real difference, and this is the sort of venue that turns a working morning into something that feels a little more enjoyable!
3. Flat White Kitchen, Durham City
A popular Durham City favourite, Flat White Kitchen is ideal if you like a lively café atmosphere while you work. It’s a good spot for emails, planning, admin, or simply getting out for an hour or two with a coffee and a change of view.
4. Hotel Indigo Durham, Durham City
Hotel Indigo offers a stylish alternative to the standard café setting. If you want somewhere comfortable for a quieter work session, an informal meeting, or just a change from your usual routine, it’s easy to see why it appeals.
5. The Curious Mr Fox, Durham City
Independent venues with character always make a working day feel a little less ordinary, and The Curious Mr Fox has exactly that sort of charm. It is the kind of place where you can open the laptop, enjoy a coffee, and feel like you have treated yourself to a better day than staying at home.
6. Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield
For an option outside Durham City, Hardwick Hall is a lovely choice. A hotel setting like this offers space, comfort and a calmer atmosphere, making it a perfect choice if you want to work somewhere that feels a little more special than your kitchen table!
7. Mainsgill Farm, near Barnard Castle
Just outside Barnard Castle, Mainsgill Farm brings something a little different to the list. With its fabulous setting, it’s the kind of place where you can combine a coffee break, a treat from the farm shop, a change of scenery and a more enjoyable working session in one trip.
8. No 17, Stanley
No 17 gives Stanley a well-earned mention. If you’re based in that part of Durham, having a friendly local venue where you can take your laptop and break up the day is exactly what will lift your mood and get you away from looking at the four walls of your living room!
9. Clubhouse Café at Consett Golf Club, Consett
With stunning views and a more unusual backdrop than the average café, the Clubhouse Café at Consett Golf Club is a great option if you want your working day to feel a bit less routine. It’s easy to imagine this being the kind of place where you stay longer than planned simply because the setting is so inspiring.
10. The Impeccable Pig, Sedgefield
To round off the list, The Impeccable Pig adds another stylish hospitality venue that feels ideal for a change of scene. Places like this prove that working remotely does NOT always mean sitting at home or heading to the nearest chain coffee shop.