Lidl food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Durham
Lidl holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 26 February 2026, 4 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: Lidl Damson Way, Durham, DH1 2HE
How it compares in Durham
That puts Lidl 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% | ← Lidl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 Lidl 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 Lidl, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooplands Retailers - other | 155 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2026 |
| Durham Halal Superstore Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 155 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2024 |
| Bargain Buys Retailers - other | 228 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 297 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 August 2025 |
| Dominos Durham-East Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 329 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2026 |
| B & M Retailers - other | 345 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
| Cafe Pausa at Dunelm Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 345 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2026 |
| Craft Burger Durham Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
Questions about Lidl
What is Lidl's food hygiene rating?
Lidl has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 26 February 2026.
Is Lidl 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Lidl last inspected?
Lidl was last inspected on 26 February 2026, 4 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 Lidl?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Lidl compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,123 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Lidl is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Lidl 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 Lidl and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 →