Hearts of Oak food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
Hearts of Oak 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 16 July 2025, 11 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: Hearts of Oak Oakerside Drive, Peterlee, SR8 1EX
How it compares in Durham
That puts Hearts of Oak 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% | ← Hearts of Oak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 683 | 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 Hearts of Oak 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 Hearts of Oak, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sizzlers Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Funk-A-Deli Pub/bar/nightclub | 319 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2025 |
| Peterlee Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 335 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2023 |
| Shotton Hall Primary School School/college/university | 411 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Grill n Chill Peterlee Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2026 |
| Luciano Bar & Bistro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| St Bede's Catholic School 4693 School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Shotton Hall Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 September 2022 |
Questions about Hearts of Oak
What is Hearts of Oak's food hygiene rating?
Hearts of Oak has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 16 July 2025.
Is Hearts of Oak 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 Hearts of Oak last inspected?
Hearts of Oak was last inspected on 16 July 2025, 11 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 Hearts of Oak?
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 Hearts of Oak compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Hearts of Oak is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Hearts of Oak 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 Hearts of Oak and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Hearts of Oak is one of 141 rated food businesses in Peterlee. See every hygiene rating in Peterlee →
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 →