The Carthouse Cafe

The Carthouse Cafe is a characterful tea-room-style café in Sherburn Hill, just southeast of Durham, where dogs are welcome inside and water bowls are waiting. It's a proper sit-down spot for breakfast, lunch and afternoon cake, with a menu that runs all day and a welcoming interior that reviewers consistently praise for its dog-friendly atmosphere.

Last food orders land at 3pm, so it's ideal for a mid-morning coffee stop or a leisurely lunch with the dog settled under the table. The café opens Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm, making it a reliable village anchor when you're touring County Durham with a four-legged passenger.

Expect a warm welcome, free water bowls and the kind of fuss-free atmosphere where tangled leads and muddy paws are just part of the day. The whole group can relax together and no one has to wait outside while everyone else eats.