Appleton Lodge food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Durham
Appleton Lodge holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the business met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 2 July 2025, 12 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Appleton Lodge Derwent Terrace, Spennymoor, DL16 6DL
How it compares in Durham
That puts Appleton Lodge among the 3,087 places in Durham holding top marks, 75% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,087 | 75% | ← Appleton Lodge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 683 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 25 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 512 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Appleton Lodge none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Appleton Lodge, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aleeza's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 367 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 373 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2024 |
| The Little Tap Pub/bar/nightclub | 401 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 May 2021 |
| The Moors Tavern Pub/bar/nightclub | 410 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2024 |
| The Pope's Pantry Takeaway/sandwich shop | 421 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2026 |
| Cheapside Fish and Chips Distributors/Transporters | 423 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Namaste Spennymoor Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 427 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Spennymoor Town Football Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 440 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2026 |
Questions about Appleton Lodge
What is Appleton Lodge's food hygiene rating?
Appleton Lodge has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 2 July 2025.
Is Appleton Lodge safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this business to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Appleton Lodge last inspected?
Appleton Lodge was last inspected on 2 July 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Durham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Appleton Lodge?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Appleton Lodge compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Appleton Lodge is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Appleton Lodge and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Appleton Lodge and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Appleton Lodge is one of 118 rated food businesses in Spennymoor. See every hygiene rating in Spennymoor →
Durham inspects and rates 4,645 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Durham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.durham.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →