The Pope's Pantry food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Durham
The Pope's Pantry holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: The Pope's Pantry was inspected on 22 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 2 St Andrews Lane, Spennymoor, DL16 6PZ
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Pope's Pantry 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% | ← The Pope's Pantry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Pope's Pantry 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 The Pope's Pantry, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapside Fish and Chips Distributors/Transporters | 20 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Namaste Spennymoor Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| No 1 Chinese Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2025 |
| The Little Tap Pub/bar/nightclub | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 May 2021 |
| Mr B's Bakery Retailers - other | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2025 |
| Aleeza's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
| Morrisons Daily Retailers - other | 105 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| The Cottage Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 115 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2025 |
Questions about The Pope's Pantry
What is The Pope's Pantry's food hygiene rating?
The Pope's Pantry has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 22 May 2026.
Is The Pope's Pantry 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Pope's Pantry last inspected?
The Pope's Pantry was last inspected on 22 May 2026, a month 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 The Pope's Pantry?
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 The Pope's Pantry compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Pope's Pantry is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Pope's Pantry 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 The Pope's Pantry 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
The Pope's Pantry is one of 118 rated food businesses in Spennymoor. See every hygiene rating in Spennymoor →
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 →