Looking Glass House food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
Looking Glass House 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 13 January 2022, more than 4 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: Looking Glass House 63 High Street, Tow Law, DL13 4DP
How it compares in Durham
That puts Looking Glass House 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% | ← Looking Glass House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Looking Glass House 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 Looking Glass House, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page's Bakery Retailers - other | 37 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2025 |
| Tow Law Pharmacy Retailers - other | 71 yards away | Exempt | |
| Go Local Retailers - other | 85 yards away | 4 - Good | 20 August 2024 |
| The Pantry Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2025 |
| Premier - Tow Law Convenience Store Retailers - other | 123 yards away | 4 - Good | 15 April 2025 |
| Golden Fry Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 141 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 143 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2024 |
| The Co-Operative Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2025 |
Questions about Looking Glass House
What is Looking Glass House's food hygiene rating?
Looking Glass House has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 13 January 2022.
Is Looking Glass House 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 Looking Glass House last inspected?
Looking Glass House was last inspected on 13 January 2022, more than 4 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 Looking Glass House?
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 Looking Glass House compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,123 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Looking Glass House is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Looking Glass House 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 Looking Glass House and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Looking Glass House is one of 25 rated food businesses in Tow Law. See every hygiene rating in Tow Law →
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 →