Cafes with outdoor seating on or near Durham University campus?

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We're visiting Durham in the next few days, so DC can do a campus tour. While he's touring we want to meet up with an elderly relative and were planning to go to the Botanic Gardens cafe, but it's currently closed. I know Durham has lots of lovely cafes, so I'm hoping there are others nearby, either on or off campus, with outdoor seating. Our relative can't walk far, so we can't rely on wandering till we find one, and being near a car park would be a bonus.
Any suggestions? (I will also Google it, but there's nothing like a bit of inside info).

your best bet is probably to park in the town centre (there's a multi storey car park) as the botanical gardens are a bit of a walk out of town and mostly surrounded by the Hill colleges and some university departments. The cathedral cafe could be ideal (and there is a little shuttle bus from the station if that helps) but I don't think it gas outdoor seating.

You probably already know this, but Durham isn't a campus university, so your son should plan which colleges/departments etc he'd like to see so he can plan his tour.

Thanks @Cardboardeaux. I was thinking of parking at Howlands Park and Ride because it seems to be quite close to the University buildings and the college that may be top of DC's list. But perhaps we can walk up into the centre and meet our relative there.

The walking tour is an organised one, setting off from the Teaching and Learning Centre and takes in all the main departments and colleges. However, I don't think it visits the sports centre - that looks to be a 20-25 minute walk away, with limited parking. How do students normally get there? By bus or on foot?

Students would walk or cycle to the sports centre normally.

Another option would be to park near the Marriott Hotel - there is a carpark at the back and then a good choice of cafes on Elvet Bridge - very close.

Howlands is good location for visiting the hill colleges and walking down to the main library and science site. Less good for cafes though.

Good advice - thanks alldonenow2.

There's a nice café with outdoor seating right up on Palace Green - or there was last time I was up there in the before-times. And the best fish & chips (Bells) is just down the road, on the corner before you hit the market square.

Have a great time!

I can recommend the Whitechurch which is on the crossroads opposite the JB Priestley library on the lower Mountjoy site (ie down the hill from the Botanic Gardens). You can book tables on the website. I take students and visitors there regularly:

www.whitechurchdurham.com/

Oh meant to say, it has a small car park but there is on street cheap parking on the roads around it.

Whitechurch definitely (was the new inn/it's a scream)

It was! But much improved now. I really like the food now.

Cafedral on Owengate (the narrow road up to the green) is lovely, if I'm not too late to recommend.