The Hat And Feathers — Pub in Durham

You can find The Hat and Feathers on Church Street in Durham, a short drive outside the city centre. It's a two-storey Victorian-era pub with roots as part of Doggarts department store, known for furniture, clothes, and fine hats with feathers. The venue serves Spice Bag, an Ireland-style dish available from Wednesday 17 September across Wetherspoon pubs. Locals come through the day, grabbing drinks at work hours or meeting in the evening for real ales and hearty meals. Bright lighting, TV screens, and outdoor seating mean it’s where people gather after work.

The Hat and Feathers sits in a two-storey building with Victorian-era design that once served as Doggarts department store in Durham during the early 1960s. It transitioned into its current role following shifts in retail patterns across County Durham. The space retains traces of its past through classic pub decor, old-world charm, and large bronze light fittings that echo pawnbroker signage. Visitors find a bright atmosphere with warm ambient lighting enhanced by multiple TV screens. Noise levels stay moderate, reflecting steady activity without overwhelming sound as people come for drinks or meals throughout daylight hours.

The Hat and Feathers serves real ales with hearty pub food like Spice Bag, available from Wednesday 17 September, and is well-known for award-winning children’s meals. With outdoor seating, medium crowd density, and accessible toilets and wheelchair access, it supports casual dining and evening socializing. People often come on weeknights to enjoy real ales or meet in groups while watching sports events across multiple TV screens. The venue enforces clear rules such as restricting children outside of 8am–9pm hours, making it practical for family visits during the day but better suited to evenings and date nights.