Home game for me too. I think it'll be a cracking weekend.

To those stopping in / around Durham, I have useful information - that being my hometown. It is right that the last train is stupidly early but if you are wanting to stop in the toon for a bit after, there are actually night buses that head back after midnight. The bus service is the 'N21' and I think it goes at 0.15, 1.15 and 2.15 on a night / morning over the weekend. It takes about an hour back to Durham like, but also stops at Gateshead and Chester (le street) and a ticket to Durham is only a fiver. Taxis tend to be about £25 and you are much better pre-booking before the night if there are loads of you. You can obviously just google the bus service.

If anyone has any Durham related queries give me a shout

More tickets have been released for the weekend, sounds as though it's selling very well

I'm rooming with the Huddersfield fans. They're in the top bunk!
Before the usual suspects arrive - it's a joke!

Not staying in Newcastle just coming for the Saturday with 2 other Leeds fans and a Salford fan. I can't wait for it bring it on.

Staying in Darlington Saturday night, Mecure hotel which I have used many times is only £70 a double room and is in the town centre.

In Durham City?! Everyone goes to the whetherspoons up the top end of town, so if you are wanting busy would say there. Otherwise the market tavern (in the market place) and the city and half moon inn down towards the direction of the courts. There aren't many good pubs (in my view at least)!

Hi Thanks again for info, Durham CAMRA claim a 21 pub ale trail all with DH1 postcodes are they all poor or has it been a while since you were in the City?

Head of Steam and The Victoria are always on my list in Durham.

Anyone know of a decent place to eat down the A1, normally stop at a toby but can't find one. Got to have a brecky on the way

It is 3 weeks since was last there! I guess I am thinking more in terms of what they are actually like, rather than if they serve ale. I am from DH1 yet a few miles out of the city centre - it isn't as compact like LS1 in Leeds. The better ale pubs tend to be more on the outer edges of the centre but that is no bad thing as all the rabble go around the new bit where the Gala Theatre is.

This would have been a 'home' fixture for me but ironically I'm at headingley at the cricket on the saturday. SJP will be a great venue for the MW though as town is literally two minutes walk away. I'd recommend the strawberry which is right outside the gallogate end, rosies a small tetleys pub at the end of stowell street (chinatown) which is a minutes walk from sjp - head under the chinese arch and your there. Behind this is the gate which is a similar development to the light in leeds which has a fair few bars including the ubiquitous wetherspoons. Tiger tiger is next door. A further walk down and your on the bigg market but avoid this its a dump for the most part. Beyond this are the pricey bars on collingwood st and up onto grey street, Grey st itself has some nice restaurants and is well worth a look for its architecture. Alternatively instead of turning up grey st head down dean street which will take you down to the quayside to see the bridges or cross teh millenium bridge to gateshead and the museums

theres a toby and a harvester just outside the metro centre and about 2 miles further up at the kingston park/airport turn.