Simply SCM food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
Simply SCM 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 6 April 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: 131 Front Street, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3BL
How it compares in Durham
That puts Simply SCM 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% | ← Simply SCM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 Simply SCM 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 Simply SCM, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heron Foods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| Citrones Cafe Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2025 |
| Bon Bons Retailers - other | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2022 |
| Fuel Coffeeworks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 110 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2025 |
| Lambton Arms Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 144 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Da-Zero Italian LTD Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 186 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| J Noble & Sons Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2025 |
| Chesters Pub/bar/nightclub | 198 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2026 |
Questions about Simply SCM
What is Simply SCM's food hygiene rating?
Simply SCM has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 6 April 2022.
Is Simply SCM 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 Simply SCM last inspected?
Simply SCM was last inspected on 6 April 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 Simply SCM?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Simply SCM compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,122 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Simply SCM is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Simply SCM 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 Simply SCM and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →