The Shoes

Durham 54.77919100, -1.55398900 , 16 Sunderland Road (Show on Map)
8.5
Very Good


Please select your travel dates to see rates and availability
Check In
Check Out
1 room2 guests 1 room, 2 guests
Info
Summary of reviewsThe Shoes, located just outside the heart of Durham, receives high praise for its convenient and tranquil setting. Despite being slightly outside the city center, the area offers a peaceful residential vibe with the lively charm of a local pub downstairs, ensuring a serene stay. The proximity to essential amenities like Sainsbury's, a bus stop and other services, coupled with a short journey to city attractions and Durham University, makes it a highly practical choice for visitors.

The breakfast at The Shoes is exceptionally well-regarded, consistently highlighted for its quality, variety and generous portions. Guests particularly enjoy the delicious full English breakfast, cooked to order and served fresh. Options cater to diverse preferences, including vegan choices and fresh berries. The superb value for money and the friendly, welcoming service enhance the overall dining experience, leading guests to feel well-fed and satisfied.

Rooms at The Shoes impress with their spaciousness and cleanliness. Guests appreciate the comfortable beds, abundant tea and coffee facilities and powerful showers in large bathrooms. The rooms are maintained impeccably, providing a cozy and tidy environment. Despite occasional remarks about dated decor or mattress comfort, the general sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing the warm, comfortable and quiet ambiance.

Cleanliness is a standout feature at The Shoes with guests frequently describing the premises as spotless and well-maintained. The clean and cozy atmosphere, combined with practical, modern facilities, contributes to a superb value-for-money experience. The establishment's cleanliness, paired with the friendly and helpful staff, reinforces its reputation as a reliable and pleasant place to stay.

The staff at The Shoes are often highlighted for their exceptional hospitality. Reviews emphasize the warm, friendly and attentive service provided from check-in to check-out. Individual staff members, such as Billy and Toby, receive special mentions for their willingness to go above and beyond to ensure guests feel at home. This dedication to guest satisfaction creates a welcoming, personable environment that enhances the overall experience.

While opinions on the beds are mixed, many guests find them comfortable and enjoy the cotton bedding. Some guests feel the beds are too soft or note issues with flat pillows and bed springs, but daily bed-making and overall comfort contribute to restful stays for most guests.

Overall, The Shoes stands out as a budget-friendly option offering remarkable value for money. The combination of comfort, cleanliness, convenient location, excellent breakfast and unparalleled hospitality makes it a charming and popular choice for travelers visiting Durham.
Show more
Categories
Cheap Bed & Breakfast
This bed and breakfast provides budget-friendly accommodation. Its location on Sunderland Road in Durham offers easy access to local amenities.

3-Star Bed & Breakfast
The Shoes provides comfortable bed and breakfast accommodations. It is well-regarded for its hospitality and convenient location. The hotel has very good reviews.

Small Bed & Breakfast

Room Types
Twin Room with Shower The twin room offers a tea and coffee maker. The unit offers 2 beds.

Guest Reviews
8.5
Very Good
Location
Situated at a short distance from the heart of Durham, The Shoes offers a convenient location for visitors looking to explore the city and its surroundings. Positioned close to various amenities such as Sainsbury's, an Esso petrol station and a cash point, guests appreciate the convenience of having essential services at their doorstep. Additionally, a bus stop right outside offers a quick and easy ride, taking only ten minutes to reach the city center, though the walk itself is a manageable 15-20 minutes from the venue.

Despite being slightly outside the city center, the area has a calm and residential feel, ensuring peaceful nights for guests. This quieter environment is balanced with the vibrancy of a friendly local pub downstairs, which adds a touch of local charm without disrupting the tranquility at night.

The location proves advantageous for those attending nearby events or Durham University ceremonies, providing a straightforward journey to various city attractions. The rooms are noted for their cleanliness and ample size, making it a comfortable stay for travelers. Moreover, visitors frequently highlight the excellent breakfast and the outstanding value for money offered by The Shoes, along with the warm hospitality received from the staff.

For those seeking a blend of convenience, comfort and a bit of local character, The Shoes stands out as an exceptional choice, making Durham’s city center and its sights readily accessible.

Breakfast
The Shoes has garnered widespread acclaim for its breakfast offerings with numerous guests highlighting the excellence and variety provided. The breakfast consistently receives praise for being great, lovely and excellent with several mentions of a delicious full English breakfast. Guests have noted that the breakfast is tasty, generous and superbly value for money.

There's a good selection on offer, including options for vegans and fresh strawberries, ensuring everyone finds something to enjoy. Many reviews point out that the breakfast is cooked to order and served fresh at the table, enhancing the overall experience. The full English breakfast, in particular, stands out, being described as amazing and delicious.

The hotel's breakfast is not only praised for its quality but also for its variety and substantial portions. With phrases like very generous breakfast and great hearty English breakfast frequently appearing in the reviews, it's clear that guests feel satisfied and well-fed. The breakfast is consistently evaluated as being worth the price with several comments on the superb value it provides.

Additionally, the breakfast service receives accolades for its excellence with friendly and welcoming staff contributing to the positive dining experience. The combination of excellent food, good variety and outstanding service positions The Shoes as a top choice for travelers seeking a satisfying start to their day.

Rooms
The rooms at 'The Shoes' impress with their spaciousness and cleanliness, offering a truly cozy and hospitable British experience. Many guests highlight the comfort of the beds and the abundance of tea and coffee facilities. The rooms, whether twin or ensuite, are noted for being large and well-kept with sizeable bathrooms featuring powerful showers.

Cleanliness is a standout feature with numerous mentions of rooms being spotlessly clean and impeccably maintained. Guests appreciate the thoughtful details, such as the pleasant room decor and the inclusion of necessities. Despite a few concerns about dated decor and the comfort of mattresses, the majority find the rooms warm, comfortable and quiet, making them feel right at home.

The spaciousness extends to both the bedrooms and bathrooms with ample room for relaxation. The rooms are located on the second floor above a pub, yet manage to maintain a peaceful ambiance. This convenient location, combined with friendly staff and superb value for money, adds to the overall positive experience. Whether traveling alone or with company, the generous room size ensures a comfortable stay at 'The Shoes'.

Beds
The beds at 'The Shoes' have received mixed feedback from guests. Many guests found the beds to be comfortable with some describing them as comfy enough and others noting a lovely or very comfortable experience. The cotton bedding added to the positive experience for some, highlighting the comfort aspect.

However, several guests mentioned that the beds were a bit too soft for their liking with a few commenting on the low height of the beds. There were also reports of slightly crinkly sheets, flat pillows and the presence of bed springs, which impacted the overall comfort for some visitors.

Despite these mixed opinions on firmness and height, the general consensus leaned towards a restful stay with beds made each day contributing to the satisfaction of many guests.

Cleanliness
At 'The Shoes', cleanliness stands out as a key highlight in numerous guest reviews. Guests repeatedly commend the establishment as very clean with many describing their rooms as spotless and impeccably maintained. The bathroom and room cleanliness receive high praise, noted as exceptionally clean and well serviced. There is also appreciation for the overall clean and cosy atmosphere of the accommodations.

Several reviews mention the practical and modern facilities, which are kept in excellent working order. Guests find the rooms not only clean but also comfortable and warm, often highlighting the ample supply of tea and coffee. The cleanliness of the premises is frequently associated with the friendly and helpful staff, contributing to a superb value-for-money experience.

Despite a few remarks about areas feeling dated or noting a strongly scented fabric softener on the sheets, the overarching sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive. Guests describe 'The Shoes' as a clean and comfortable option for staying close to Durham center with rooms that are clean, spacious and exceptionally well maintained. Overall, the high level of cleanliness at 'The Shoes' leaves a strong impression on guests, making it a reliable and pleasant place to stay.

Staff
Nestled in a charming location, 'The Shoes' is renowned for its outstanding hospitality, characterized primarily by its consistently warm and friendly staff. The positive atmosphere is amplified by the attentiveness and helpfulness that guests frequently experience. From the moment of check-in, a seamless process underscored by friendliness, visitors feel genuinely welcomed.

Numerous reviews emphasize the exceptional service provided by the staff with particular mentions of individuals such as Billy and Toby, who go above and beyond to ensure guests feel at home. The dedication to meeting all guest needs is evident, whether through sharing local knowledge or accommodating late arrivals beyond typical check-in hours.

The staff's friendliness extends throughout the stay, ensuring a pleasant and comfortable environment. This personable service is complemented by a clean and well-maintained setting, offering terrific value for its price. The warm, approachable nature of the hosts further enriches the experience, making every guest feel thoroughly looked after.

Overall, 'The Shoes' delivers not just a stay, but a heartfelt connection, making it a standout choice for those seeking both comfort and unparalleled hospitality.

3 Star
The Shoes offers an impressive value for money, consistently highlighted by its guests. The bed and breakfast is praised for being comfortable and clean, providing a quiet environment with friendly and helpful staff. The accommodation is noted for not being overly fancy, yet it exudes a warm, authentic and welcoming atmosphere, making it a charming place to stay.

Guests appreciate the reasonable and affordable pricing, which is frequently mentioned as one of the hotel's strongest points. The price difference compared to other options is more than justified by the quality of service and facilities provided. The food, particularly the breakfast, is considered quite good, adding to the overall positive experience.

Overall, The Shoes stands out as a budget-friendly option that doesn't compromise on comfort or hospitality, making it a popular choice for many travelers.


No, The Shoes doesn't have any pool.

No, a spa isn't available at The Shoes.

No, The Shoes doesn't allow dogs.

No, parking facilities aren't available at The Shoes.

No, The Shoes doesn't have a gym.

Location Show Map
More Options
  • Hotel in Durham

  • 7.8 Good

  • From $68

  • Inn in Durham

  • 8.3 Very Good

  • From $150

  • Hotel in Durham

  • 7.6 Good

  • From $73

  • Inn in Durham

  • 8.4 Very Good

  • From $84



6,973,813

Hotels

60

Categories

49,804

Regions

208,995

Cities


×
×
Checkin
× Home About Press Categories Blog Hotel Awards Travelmyth GPT Contact Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookies Policy FAQ