Durham University - Chemistry Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
Durham University - Chemistry Cafe 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 10 December 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Science Site South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE
How it compares in Durham
That puts Durham University - Chemistry Cafe 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% | ← Durham University - Chemistry Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Durham University - Chemistry Cafe 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 Durham University - Chemistry Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham University - Circolo Bistro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 66 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2024 |
| Durham University - Engineering Common Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2025 |
| Durham Students Union Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2025 |
| Best One - Dunelm Food Store Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 April 2025 |
| Durham Cathedral Mobile caterer | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2023 |
| Durham University - Collingwood College School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2024 |
| Durham School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2025 |
| Cooplands Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2026 |
Questions about Durham University - Chemistry Cafe
What is Durham University - Chemistry Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Durham University - Chemistry Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 10 December 2024.
Is Durham University - Chemistry Cafe 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 Durham University - Chemistry Cafe last inspected?
Durham University - Chemistry Cafe was last inspected on 10 December 2024, 19 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 Durham University - Chemistry Cafe?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Durham University - Chemistry Cafe compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Durham University - Chemistry Cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Durham University - Chemistry Cafe 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 Durham University - Chemistry Cafe 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 4,645 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 →