Forty Winks In Durham: The Most Unique Guesthouse In North East England?

This weekend made me realise that we don’t go to Durham nearly enough. It’s only a short drive from our house, but the city is one of my favourites in England. It’s especially beautiful in Autumn, when the streets are littered with crunchy auburn leaves and the chill in the air hints that the festive season will soon be upon us.

We were invited to review Forty Winks Guesthouse and headed off for an overnight stay in Durham at the weekend. We were only away from home for one night, but I came back feeling like I’d had a two week holiday.

Sometimes a night away with your love is exactly what you need and staying at Forty Winks was an absolute pleasure. The guesthouse is quirky, filled with character and, most importantly, a stay there is good for the soul.

Be warned – this is a picture-heavy post, because there was so much to photograph!

My review of Forty Winks Guesthouse and Residence, Durham

Upon arrival, we found a parking spot directly outside Forty Winks, which is located on a narrow street that overlooks the River Wear, directly opposite the Cathedral. We were off to a good start.

We peered through the glass-panelled front door and were immediately intrigued by the foyer, which features a suit of armour, a whole assortment of taxidermy and, guarding the staircase, a rather regal full-size giraffe. We rang the bell, filled with curiosity, and the glamorous owner appeared within seconds. Deborah greeted us warmly and we followed her up the leopard print carpeted staircase to our room.

The Room

We were staying in a Second Floor Suite with a majestic kingsize bed, comfortable chaise longue and sumptuous furnishings. There’s a coffee machine, Molton Brown toiletries, and a bath that’s big enough for two. The room is elegant but cosy, with thick carpets and the kind of bedsheets that make you hate your own.

I was immediately drawn to the window, where I peered out from behind the curtains to take in our view of the Cathedral.

The 21st Century luxury of the bedrooms is basically the antithesis to the Edwardian vibe of the ground floor, and it totally works.

I’m not sure I would have wanted to share my sleeping space with some of the oddities to be found downstairs, so as much as we enjoyed exploring the lower floor (especially after dark, when it’s extra ambient!), it was lovely to retreat into the serenity of our room at bedtime.

During our stay, we were treated to dinner at the owners’ new venture, The Rabbit Hole, but that experience deserves a story of its own, so stay tuned for my review.

The Story Behind Forty Winks

Deborah explained to us that Forty Winks was her family home, and nothing much changed when they opened their doors to guests in 2017. In fact, only the dining room had been altered for its new purpose.

The homeowners used to sit at one mammoth dining table, but had brought in smaller individual tables for guests who prefer their own company.

The couple’s eclectic collection of weird and wonderful artefacts has been accrued over the years at auctions around the world. There’s something new and eccentric to behold at every turn and the classic period decor gives the whole abode an opulent feel.

From the crystal chandelier to the old school jukebox, the hand carved Punjabi statue to the stuffed rodents reading a Forty Winks menu; the residence is a treasure chest that guests are welcome to rummage through. It’s all very theatrical, and makes a fun change to your usual B&B or faceless chain hotel.

Tom and I thoroughly enjoyed voyaging through the different rooms, and set ourselves a challenge: if we could take one thing home, what would it be? Tom took a fancy to the gong on the staircase, while I was enamoured with the Marilyn Monroe figure.

Don’t worry, we kept our hands off!

We woke to the soft sound of bells ringing from Durham Cathedral after a heavenly sleep in our large bed. It seems Deborah and her daughter’s ‘Princess and the Pea’ style bed testing at a local store had paid off, because the mattress was supreme.

Breakfast at Forty Winks

The breakfast room is really quite splendid. Feeling like royalty, we took our plush window-side seats and perused the menu. We had fresh orange juice, locally produced tea in a beautiful china pot, and buttery toast. T

om went for the ‘Breakfast in Bread’ – a sausage and bacon toastie (minus the egg, he’s a fussy eater). I chose the poached eggs on toast with zesty avocado smash.

The food was delicious and I could already feel myself hesitant to leave.

Deborah’s husband does the cooking and the lady herself serves. That personal touch is exactly what you’d expect from a house like Forty Winks, and we took it as an opportunity to get to know more about the residence.

How could you not want to ask 101 questions about a place like this?!

Why You Should Book Forty Winks If You’re Staying in Durham

I always take great delight in the little extras that make a hotel different to its competition, so I loved that  Forty Winks couldn’t even be placed in the same category as the other accommodation options in the city. The house is unapologetically different, slightly outrageous and wacky, but somehow, it’s also super relaxing. The playful design could potentially make the guesthouse feel too niche, but it’s all been so tastefully executed, and the hospitality is so personal (without being overbearing), that it works wonderfully. Forty Winks’ personality is one that will stay with me for a while.

It’s all slightly unusual, but what fun is ordinary? Staying at Forty Winks is like a night at the museum and a luxury retreat all in one, and I’ll be singing the guesthouse’s praises to anyone planning a short break in Durham.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to share a hotel review! So what do you think, would you like tasty here? Let me know in the comments!

We were guests of Forty Winks but all opinions are my own.

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