Barnard Castle Masonic Hall food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
Barnard Castle Masonic Hall 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 9 September 2025, 10 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: 41 Newgate, Barnard Castle, DL12 8NJ
How it compares in Durham
That puts Barnard Castle Masonic Hall among the 3,086 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 | 3,086 | 75% | ← Barnard Castle Masonic Hall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 684 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 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 Barnard Castle Masonic Hall 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 Barnard Castle Masonic Hall, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newgate House Bed & Breakfast Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2020 |
| Capri Pizzeria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2024 |
| Barnard Castle Rugby Union Football Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2024 |
| Black Horse Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 200 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 February 2020 |
| The Shelter Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 216 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| St Mary's Parish Hall Other catering premises | 216 yards away | Exempt | |
| The Butty Market Takeaway/sandwich shop | 261 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Artisan Corner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 262 yards away | 4 - Good | 10 July 2025 |
Questions about Barnard Castle Masonic Hall
What is Barnard Castle Masonic Hall's food hygiene rating?
Barnard Castle Masonic Hall has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 9 September 2025.
Is Barnard Castle Masonic Hall 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 Barnard Castle Masonic Hall last inspected?
Barnard Castle Masonic Hall was last inspected on 9 September 2025, 10 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 Barnard Castle Masonic Hall?
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 Barnard Castle Masonic Hall compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Barnard Castle Masonic Hall is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Barnard Castle Masonic Hall 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 Barnard Castle Masonic Hall 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
Barnard Castle Masonic Hall is one of 107 rated food businesses in Barnard Castle. See every hygiene rating in Barnard Castle →
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 →