Premier Inn Durham City Centre (Walkergate) hotel

You're staying over or meeting someone who is, and frankly, you could do a lot worse than the restaurant tucked inside this Premier Inn. The location on Freeman's Place puts you a stone's throw from the cathedral and castle, but far enough from the student chaos of Elvet Bridge to actually have a conversation. The menu won't win any awards, but it does exactly what it says on the tin: proper full English breakfasts that'll set you right, decent fish and chips, and a Sunday roast that's better than it has any right to be. The staff are genuinely friendly rather than corporate-trained friendly, and the prices won't make you wince. It's the sort of place that works whether you're fuelling up before tackling the cathedral steps or winding down after a long day around the city.