Voting for The Northern Echo's best pub competition is now open. In that spirit, we had a chat with another pub who made it in to the top ten.

You're never short of pubs to choose from if you're wanting to head out on an evening for a well deserved tipple.

This means for The Northern Echo's Best Pub competition, there was a whole load of boozers to choose from.

After receiving all of your nominations, we announced the top ten this week who are all vying for your votes to take home the top spot. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

The Bay Horse at 45 The Green in Hurworth, Darlington, is one of the pubs that's made it in to our top ten list. 

Dating back to the 1400s, the award winning village pub boasts a beer garden and expansive menu which includes an array of vegetarian and vegan options as well as Sunday roasts.

Offering a wide variety of local spirits and beers, the pub says they like to keep things local.

We had a quick chat with them as voting opens.

General Manager of the pub, Katie Thirkell, told The Northern Echo that it's a joy to be nominated.

She said: "It's absolutely amazing to hear, it's always nice to get a nomination from people who know your pub and have chosen you.

"It means that little bit more that people think we are worthy of it and it means a lot.

"It would be lovely to win - we can hope and ask people to vote. There are a lot of really great pubs in the area so it's great to be a part of the top ten as voting opens." 

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The full list of our finalists are here:

  • Baydale Beck Inn, in Low Coniscliffe, Darlington
  • Crafty Merlin’s MicroPub, in 6 Buckton’s Yard, Darlington
  • House of Hop, 4B Houndgate, Darlington
  • ORB Micropub, at 28 Coniscliffe Road, Darlington
  • The Bay Horse, at 45 The Green, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington
  • The Bay Horse Inn, at 28 West Green, Heighington Village, Newton Aycliffe
  • The Bay Horse Middridge, in 42 South Side, Middridge, Newton Aycliffe
  • The Copper Mine, in 26 Job’s Hill Bank, Crook
  • The Fox & Hounds Neasham, in 24 Tessway, Neasham, Darlington
  • The Slaters Arms, in 50 Bondgate, Darlington

Voting is now open, and we'll be featuring each of the pubs over the next ten days so we can learn more about what makes each one so popular - so keep your eyes peeled.

You can vote for your ‘Best Pub 2024’ by picking up copies of The Northern Echo in the days to follow as we profile all the lucky finalists.