The Durham Ox has now re-opened after a complete re-vamp. If you've been there before be careful not to park on the newly laid lawn (previously the car park) or to enter via the front door (no longer recognisable as such from the inside).

 

The bar is now where the restaurant once was and the restaurant is where the bar used to be. There is a new front door at the far end of the building (which seems a long way from the car park if, like me, you're lazy or if it's raining) which leads into the new bar. To my mind (maybe because I visited on a dark winter evening) the bar is reminiscent of a ski chalet with its large sofas, log fire, oriental rugs and stripped oak beams.

 

The restaurant now takes up the most space and is decorated in darkish shades with subdued lighting making for a more sophisticated feel than before. The decor here is not dissimilar to that at other nearby pubs such as the Orange Tree and the Punch Bowl. The menu is eclectic ranging from bangers and mash to texmex with burgers, roast chicken and fish in between. There seems to be something for everyone.

 

Unintentionally, I visited on the day the Durham Ox re-opened. The waiter had only been working there for 30 minutes and, like him, the kitchen was probably still learning the menu. But everything was fine.

 

If you've tried the new Durham Ox, please leave a comment and let me and others know who you got on.