Pawsh Places: Doggie Afternoon Tea at Barking Blends Coffee House, Durham

To celebrate National Afternoon Tea Week, Jesse, my partner Andy and I headed to Barking Blends Coffee House for something a little different — a doggie afternoon tea.

If you haven’t been before, Barking Blends is a bright, friendly spot that’s all about making dogs (and their humans) feel welcome. It’s just five minutes from the Arnison Centre, so a perfect place to pause if you’re out shopping in Durham. 

First Impressions of Barking Blends

The welcome couldn’t have been warmer. The owner greeted us with a huge smile, chatted away, and immediately offered Jesse treats and water. Jesse is on the anxious side, so little gestures like this make a big difference.

The water bowl provided was enormous — almost as big as Jesse herself — so in true princess style, we poured some into a dainty dish from her afternoon tea set instead. Much more up her street.

The Doggie Afternoon Tea

Jesse’s afternoon tea came with:

• Sausage
• Cheese
• Sweet treats (saved for later — too much excitement in the cafe)
• A tennis ball (left behind — Jesse isn’t a toy kinda girl)

She devoured the sausage and cheese in seconds, tail wagging the whole time.

What we didn’t realise until we arrived — Barking Blends also does human afternoon tea! It looks fantastic, but you do need to book with 24 hours’ notice (as with most places). Next time, we’ll definitely plan ahead so we can all join in the afternoon tea fun.

Our Lunch (and Sweet Treats)

While Jesse enjoyed her platter, Andy tucked into a hearty sausage and bacon panini, while I went for a flavour-packed pepperoni flatbread.

For dessert, we couldn’t resist treating ourselves — Andy’s Biscoff cheesecake was creamy and rich, and my cornflake cake (spotted on their social media that morning) had that perfect balance of chewy and crunchy. Both were homemade and completely worth it.

The Atmosphere – Dog Heaven

In the short time we were there, we met seven dogs. Yes, seven! A dream come true for dog lovers.

Andy also noticed a stack of board games in the corner, which is such a cosy touch. On a cooler day (and with a more relaxed Jesse), we’d happily stay for hours.

We’re not coffee drinkers ourselves, but we overheard another customer raving about the ginger snap tea — that’s on my list for our next visit.

Pawsh Verdict 🐾

• Pet-friendliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Doggie menu: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (princess-sized water bowls optional!)
• Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Vibe: Friendly, sociable, and a total haven for dog lovers

Would we go back? Absolutely. Next time we’ll book the human afternoon tea and maybe even try the ginger snap tea everyone’s talking about.

Most of the other customers we met during our visit seemed to be regulars — and after experiencing the warm welcome, relaxed atmosphere, and genuine love for dogs here, we can absolutely see why.

If you’re in Durham and want somewhere welcoming for both you and your four-legged baba, Barking Blends Coffee House is a fantastic choice — just don’t forget to book ahead if you fancy afternoon tea for two.