4,627 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.6 out of 5. 73.8% rated "very good".
Food hygiene ratings in Durham are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.
Durham currently has 4,627 registered food businesses. Of these, 4,104 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs broadly in line with the national average, with 73.8% rated 5 out of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.6 out of 5. There are currently 27 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they require urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.
If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.
| Name | Address | Rating | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier - Beverley Way Store | SR8 2AT | 0 | Nov 06, 2025 |
| Spice Lounge | DL14 7PF | 0 | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Thandi News & Wine | DH6 2LP | 0 | Nov 18, 2025 |
| Thornley Fisheries | DH6 3BG | 0 | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Alhambra Curry House | TS21 4BU | 1 | Jan 08, 2025 |
| Betty's Fish Shop | DL4 2JL | 1 | Aug 21, 2025 |
| Caesars Kitchen | DH3 3AY | 1 | Jul 10, 2025 |
| Chance | DH8 7SA | 1 | Aug 22, 2025 |
| Classic Pizza | DH9 0DQ | 1 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| Derwentside Pizzas | DH8 5AB | 1 | May 08, 2025 |
| Downey's Fish & Chips | SR7 7EU | 1 | Oct 02, 2025 |
| Ebac Limited | DL5 6SQ | 1 | Jan 08, 2026 |
| Esh Winning Chop Suey | DH7 9HR | 1 | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Fox Street Convenience Store | SR7 7LL | 1 | Jun 10, 2025 |
| George's Fry Box | DH6 2UY | 1 | Oct 10, 2025 |
There are currently 3,029 food businesses in Durham with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 73.8% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.
A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.
Inspection frequency in Durham depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.