The Poachers food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Poachers 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 27 January 2026, 5 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: Poachers Pocket Bridge Street, Metal Bridge, DH6 5LQ
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Poachers 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 Poachers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very 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 The Poachers 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 Poachers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dave's Breakfast Bar Mobile caterer | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Pizzeria Martino Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Best kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| Cornforth House Partnership Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Square & Compass Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2025 |
Questions about The Poachers
What is The Poachers's food hygiene rating?
The Poachers has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 27 January 2026.
Is The Poachers 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 Poachers last inspected?
The Poachers was last inspected on 27 January 2026, 5 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 Poachers?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 The Poachers compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Poachers is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Poachers 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 Poachers 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 →