Bargain Buys food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Durham
Bargain Buys holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 21 October 2025, 8 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: Unit 9 Dragonville Retail Park, Dragon Lane, Durham, DH1 2WP
How it compares in Durham
That puts Bargain Buys 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% | ← Bargain Buys | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 682 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 51 | 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 Very 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 Bargain Buys 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 Bargain Buys, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 82 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 August 2025 |
| Dominos Durham-East Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2026 |
| Cooplands Retailers - other | 345 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2026 |
| Durham Halal Superstore Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 345 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2024 |
| Durham Chinese Takeaway/sandwich shop | 351 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 July 2025 |
| Catholic Parish of the Durham Martyrs Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
| Craft Burger Durham Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
| B & M Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
Questions about Bargain Buys
What is Bargain Buys's food hygiene rating?
Bargain Buys has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 21 October 2025.
Is Bargain Buys 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Bargain Buys last inspected?
Bargain Buys was last inspected on 21 October 2025, 8 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 Bargain Buys?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Bargain Buys compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Bargain Buys is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Bargain Buys 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 Bargain Buys 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 4,645 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 →