The Copper Mine in Crook has been nominated by customers in The Northern Echo's best pub competition.

One of ten finalists in our competition, The Copper Mine has found a place on the region's culinary map thanks to the vision of owner Anne Binks and her dedicated staff. 

Ms Binks, of Witton-le-Wear, who comes from a farming family and went into buying and selling property, said: "My dad suggested I should buy this pub. When I did in 2015, I was originally intending to build houses on the car park.

"But then I thought, there wasn't a nice pub in the area, so we decided to renovate it instead.(Image: Sarah Caldecott)

"I wanted to be able to offer nice value items at prices that people could afford. I've extended the kitchen and renovated the pub throughout, including new fireplaces. 

"We have got a great staff. People always mention them in reviews.

"Our front of house team don't just put food on the table and turn around, but have a chat with customers and give them a personal experience. 

The pub are proud to offer a wide range of home-cooked food, from simple pub meals, to "dishes any restaurant would be proud to offer".

And of course fabulous drinks, ranging from cask ales to individually designed copper mine cocktails. 

Ms Binks said: "We are a gastro pub and do everything from burgers to your fillet steak and beef fillets.

"Our current specialty is what is called The Stack, which is going really really well.

"We do different ones, including a tandoori chicken stack and a steak stack with either a naan bread or flat bread and with fries or rice.

"They are stacked right up – so it’s really a massive meal. It’s very popular."

The pub has three to four chefs at any one time and is "desperately" trying to recruit another one. 

She said: "We are really busy now. The pub seats from 80 to 85 people. Including the chefs we have about 28 members of staff altogether."

The Copper Mine attracts customers from across the region, including Durham, Darlington Sunderland and Redcar.

It has a quirky interior, with the men's toilets made of beer kegs and the ladies' floor laid with copper pennies.

There are Trivial Pursuit game cards on the table for people to play with while waiting for their food. 

Ms Binks remains heavily involved in the business. She said: "I used to work every single day but I got cancer a few years ago and now this year have to travel a bit, but I have got a great team.

"I had to pull back a little bit, but couldn’t imagine myself staying at home. I like coming down. I enjoy the banter and like seeing people on the shifts.

"I don’t work like I did but I am very much hands on. Whatever needs doing, including washing the kitchen."

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

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