The City food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The City holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 17 January 2019, 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: 84 New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3AQ
How it compares in Durham
That puts The City among the 3,088 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 | 3,088 | 75% | ← The City | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 676 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 285 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 517 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 The City 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 City, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooplands Retailers - other | 34 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2026 |
| Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 70 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Dunelm Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 106 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2025 |
| Belli E Brutti Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 163 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2026 |
| Cafedral Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2026 |
| Chapters of Durham Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 177 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| Blue Eyes Durham Limited Pub/bar/nightclub | 193 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2026 |
Questions about The City
What is The City's food hygiene rating?
The City has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 17 January 2019.
Is The City 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The City last inspected?
The City was last inspected on 17 January 2019, 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 City?
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 The City compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,123 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The City is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The City 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 City and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →