The Blacksmith Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Blacksmith Arms 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
This is a fresh result: The Blacksmith Arms was inspected on 25 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 7 Spring Gardens, West Auckland, DL14 9SL
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Blacksmith Arms 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% | ← The Blacksmith Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 682 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 51 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 513 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 The Blacksmith Arms 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 Blacksmith Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky 8 Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2025 |
| Devonshire House Care Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
| Auck House B and B Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2019 |
| Oak Leaf Community Project CIC Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2023 |
| Ivy Cottage Farms Ltd Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Smith's Fish and Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2024 |
| The Well Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
| West Auckland Town Football Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2025 |
Questions about The Blacksmith Arms
What is The Blacksmith Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Blacksmith Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 25 June 2026.
Is The Blacksmith Arms 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 Blacksmith Arms last inspected?
The Blacksmith Arms was last inspected on 25 June 2026, within the last month. 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 Blacksmith Arms?
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 The Blacksmith Arms compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,132 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Blacksmith Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Blacksmith Arms 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 Blacksmith Arms 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 Blacksmith Arms is one of 23 rated food businesses in West Auckland. See every hygiene rating in West Auckland →
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 →