The Black Horse food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Black Horse 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 7 June 2023, more than 3 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: 158 Front Street, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3AY
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Black Horse 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% | ← The Black Horse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Black Horse 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 Black Horse, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Coffeeworks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2025 |
| Citrones Cafe Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2025 |
| Chesters Pub/bar/nightclub | 126 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2026 |
| Heron Foods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 130 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| High Crown Pub/bar/nightclub | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2026 |
| Bon Bons Retailers - other | 144 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2022 |
| Bar Bianco Pub/bar/nightclub | 157 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2022 |
| Fabio's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 157 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
Questions about The Black Horse
What is The Black Horse's food hygiene rating?
The Black Horse has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 7 June 2023.
Is The Black Horse 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 The Black Horse last inspected?
The Black Horse was last inspected on 7 June 2023, more than 3 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 The Black Horse?
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 The Black Horse compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,122 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Black Horse is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Black Horse 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 Black Horse 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 →