Babul's food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
Babul's holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 29 November 2021, 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: 9 Market Place, Barnard Castle, DL12 8NF
How it compares in Durham
That puts Babul's 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% | ← Babul's | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 Babul's 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 Babul's, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gelato Tutti Takeaway/sandwich shop | 9 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2025 |
| No 15 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 21 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2025 |
| Raby Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 21 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2025 |
| Moments Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2026 |
| Pizza Cottage Takeaway/sandwich shop | 50 yards away | 4 - Good | 12 December 2024 |
| Castle Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2023 |
| Heron Foods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2026 |
| Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
Questions about Babul's
What is Babul's's food hygiene rating?
Babul's has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 29 November 2021.
Is Babul's 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Babul's last inspected?
Babul's was last inspected on 29 November 2021, 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 Babul's?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Babul's compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,132 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Babul's is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Babul's 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 Babul's and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Babul's 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 →