The Coalhouse food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Coalhouse holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 22 August 2018, more than 7 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 39 Church Street, Seaham, SR7 7EJ
How it compares in Durham
In Durham, 75% of rated places manage a 5, so The Coalhouse sits behind roughly 3,088 nearby businesses. 16% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,088 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 676 | 16% | ← The Coalhouse | |
| 3 out of 5 | 284 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 518 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety 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 The Coalhouse 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 The Coalhouse, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cipolla Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 23 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2025 |
| Angus Butchers Manufacturers/packers | 33 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
| Heron Foods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 March 2026 |
| Playdates CIC Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Foggins News Retailers - other | 94 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2024 |
| Memory Lane Pub/bar/nightclub | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2022 |
| Hat and Feathers Pub/bar/nightclub | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| Bruce's Gym Retailers - other | 178 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
Questions about The Coalhouse
What is The Coalhouse's food hygiene rating?
The Coalhouse has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Durham Council on 22 August 2018.
Is The Coalhouse safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Coalhouse last inspected?
The Coalhouse was last inspected on 22 August 2018, more than 7 years 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 The Coalhouse?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Coalhouse compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,122 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, while The Coalhouse holds a 4. 676 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Coalhouse 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 The Coalhouse and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Coalhouse is one of 186 rated food businesses in Seaham. See every hygiene rating in Seaham →
Durham inspects and rates 4,640 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 →