Tell me about Darlington

B

BeanBeany

Well-known member
Moving back to NE after quite a few years and because of work we have decided to live in Darlo, housing is sorted and I know the town pretty well, worked there years ago but who can tell me anything about the more social side of life music scene, pubs, bars, restaurants, sporting / gyms / outdoor type stuff, seen there is a park run which is good news!

And yes I know most things are closed at the moment but I'm hoping life will be getting back to normal not long after we move end of Feb time.
 
When I lived in Middleton st george, I used Bannatyne gym, made some good friends their and it’s quite social especially the classes and the pool area.

I can’t comment on nights out as rarely went out their though their is plenty of nice restaurants.
 
Tommy_Dickfingers said:
Rough as toast.
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Strange expression! Is that bad? I quite like toast. Are we talking overdone toast or hot buttered?

Anywho Darlo is OK. If you wish to avoid the "traveller community" (who are mostly fine with a smattering of nobs, like every other socio-economic group on this planet) then avoid the East side of town. West end is best for schools etc. but due to the Quaker influence in the town at the time of the expansion westwards, has no pubs until you get out to Cockerton and Mowden. Some very nice houses though.

In terms of the "music scene", limited is the best description I've got. There is "The Forum" a small music venue which is largely used by tribute bands, occasionally the Civic/Palladium will have a band on, it does get decent theatre shows passing through and I'm told the panto is usually decent. Restaurants are varied and of varaible quality as with most towns. There is a Michelin starred restaurant just outside the town (Raby Hunt Inn at Summerhouses).

Outdoor stuff is great you are never far from decent walks on all sides of the town and of course you are a short drive from The Dales, The Moors, Yorkshire Coast. The A1M means you are about 45 mins from Newcastle and of course the mainline rail service can get you to Kings X in just over 2 hours.
 
The Bridge Inn , Stapleton just outside the town is a cracking place for food . More a restaurant than a pub and it’s in Yorks ( over the Tees ) so is open
 
Had a day on the beer there 18 months ago with some lads who live there, was a decent day out, some good pubs and restaurants. Much better than years ago 👍
 
Number Twenty 2 bar on Coniscliffe Rd is a decent quality bar and there's the Clervaux bakery and coffee shop a few doors down. Also a few micropubs scattered around. Couple of restaurants to try bang in the centre are Duke Bombay for Indian and Voodoo Cafe which serves Mexican food upstairs and specialises in cocktails and salsa dancing downstairs. Newcastle is in fact only 30 mins on the train and Durham 15 mins with lots of services running. Richmond, Barnard Castle and North Pennines are very close by which is ideal. Although Darlington town centre has been struggling a lot in recent years, it's not a bad place and not generally as rough as Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, etc.
 
Thanks all! Guess there's always Stockton just down the road for a bit of extra live band action.

I've met a good few Darlo travellers over the years mainly in Hogans on the way home from matches generally been good as gold.
 
The biggest number of Darlo travellers are those who get on the train to newcastle for home matches. This has soared since 2009 and our relegation.
Darlington is a decent little town, but one I only ever visit to catch the train.
Muttley is right, the West end is the only place to live and there are some very nice houses.
You wouldn't choose to shop in Darlo, or go out on a night there, but it does have a good little theatre and the everyday amenities. But it's all about the train really. The little places around it are much nicer especially south, but same can be said about Stockton and Middlesbrough.
 
BeanBeany said:
Thanks all! Guess there's always Stockton just down the road for a bit of extra live band action.

I've met a good few Darlo travellers over the years mainly in Hogans on the way home from matches generally been good as gold.
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The Quaker House in Mechanics Yard just off High Row has, in normal times, regular live music. We're planning to retire there (Darlo not the Quaker House).
 
BeanBeany said:
Thanks all! Guess there's always Stockton just down the road for a bit of extra live band action.

I've met a good few Darlo travellers over the years mainly in Hogans on the way home from matches generally been good as gold.
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They are, I met alot when i was going to bannatynes most of them are really good lads, a few became good mates of mine. The villages around darlington are generally nice as well, some of the local pubs to those villages often have live bands on.
 
NYboro said:
..and an excellent choice of real ale.
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Our move is a potential prelude to a sort of retirement, renting in the west end for a bit and if we can settle after being away for so long then we'll sell the house down south and buy something which will free us up to do what we like workwise.
 
BeanBeany said:
Our move is a potential prelude to a sort of retirement, renting in the west end for a bit and if we can settle after being away for so long then we'll sell the house down south and buy something which will free us up to do what we like workwise.
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Our move is predicated on being able to sell out house here before we move. The intention is to take a short term "executive" rental for a few months while we look for something to buy. My brother lives in Teesdale and my sister-in-law is in Keswick, So Darlo works out perfectly for us.
 
Can't see the down side to selling a place down South and getting a much better property in Darlington along with a big chunk of cash. On balance, you're getting a better house for much less money in a more favourable location.
 
Being born and raised in Darlo and now living in one of the outlying villages TBH if you can afford it I'd go for one of the villages every time.
 
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