5

Simon's Butchers food hygiene rating

Retailers - other · Durham

Simon's Butchers holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 2 February 2026, 5 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: 108A Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7EQ

How it compares in Durham

That puts Simon's Butchers 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.

Every rated food business in Durham
5 out of 5 3,088 75% ← Simon's Butchers
4 out of 5 676 16%
3 out of 5 284 7%
2 out of 5 50 1%
1 out of 5 22 1%
0 out of 5 2 <1%

A further 518 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 Simon's Butchers 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 Simon's Butchers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Gregory's Bakers & Deli Manufacturers/packers 36 yards away 5 - Very good 15 January 2026
Next Door Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 38 yards away 5 - Very good 29 January 2026
Longstaff's Family Bakers Retailers - other 51 yards away 5 - Very good 7 May 2026
Angel Trust Retailers - other 86 yards away 5 - Very good 20 January 2026
Bishop Auckland Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub 153 yards away 5 - Very good 23 October 2025
Panda Panda Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 238 yards away 5 - Very good 10 September 2024
Chittocks Retailers - other 264 yards away 5 - Very good 10 July 2025
Cooplands Retailers - other 267 yards away 5 - Very good 31 July 2024

Questions about Simon's Butchers

What is Simon's Butchers's food hygiene rating?

Simon's Butchers has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 2 February 2026.

Is Simon's Butchers 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was Simon's Butchers last inspected?

Simon's Butchers was last inspected on 2 February 2026, 5 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 Simon's Butchers?

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 Simon's Butchers compare to other places in Durham?

75% of the 4,122 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Simon's Butchers is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Durham Council inspects Simon's Butchers 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 Simon's Butchers and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

Simon's Butchers is one of 176 rated food businesses in Bishop Auckland. See every hygiene rating in Bishop Auckland

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 →