The Spotty Giraffe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
The Spotty Giraffe 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 22 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: Unit 2 36 Durham Road, Blackhill, DH8 8RX
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Spotty Giraffe 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 Spotty Giraffe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Spotty Giraffe 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 Spotty Giraffe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhill Fish and Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 35 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2025 |
| Londis Blackhill Retailers - other | 39 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2024 |
| Phoenix Express Chinese Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 39 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2024 |
| Tesco Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 41 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2026 |
| Lisa's Little Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 42 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2025 |
| JF Kennedy Care Centre Other catering premises | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Shotley Bridge Nursery School School/college/university | 199 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2026 |
| Benfieldside Primary School School/college/university | 398 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
Questions about The Spotty Giraffe
What is The Spotty Giraffe's food hygiene rating?
The Spotty Giraffe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 22 July 2025.
Is The Spotty Giraffe 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 The Spotty Giraffe last inspected?
The Spotty Giraffe was last inspected on 22 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 The Spotty Giraffe?
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 Spotty Giraffe compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Spotty Giraffe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Spotty Giraffe 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 Spotty Giraffe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Spotty Giraffe is one of 23 rated food businesses in Blackhill. See every hygiene rating in Blackhill →
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 →