The Punch Bowl food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Punch Bowl holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This rating dates from 17 June 2025, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: The Punch Bowl Edward Street, Craghead, DH9 6EF
How it compares in Durham
A 2 is rare: only 50 of 4,133 rated places in Durham score this low, about one in 83. By contrast 75% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,086 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 684 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 1% | ← The Punch Bowl | |
| 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 Punch Bowl the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Punch Bowl, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craghead Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 4 November 2022 |
| Premier - Craghead Convenience Store Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
| Craghead Village Hall Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 September 2022 |
| South Moor Golf Club & Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 January 2024 |
| The Bread and Butter Thing Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2026 |
Questions about The Punch Bowl
What is The Punch Bowl's food hygiene rating?
The Punch Bowl has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Durham Council on 17 June 2025.
Is The Punch Bowl safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Punch Bowl last inspected?
The Punch Bowl was last inspected on 17 June 2025, 12 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 Punch Bowl?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Punch Bowl compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, while The Punch Bowl holds a 2. 50 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Punch Bowl 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 Punch Bowl 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Durham, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Durham
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →