The Coalface food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Coalface holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 13 June 2024, more than 2 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: 73 Church Street, Seaham, SR7 7HE
How it compares in Durham
In Durham, 75% of rated places manage a 5, so The Coalface sits behind roughly 3,086 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,086 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 684 | 17% | ← The Coalface | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Coalface 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 Coalface, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar 1828 Pub/bar/nightclub | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2022 |
| Londonderry Bar & Accommodation Pub/bar/nightclub | 39 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2024 |
| Seaham Old Scouts Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2018 |
| Seaham Lighthouse Café Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 56 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
| Asda Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
| B&M Retail Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 April 2024 |
Questions about The Coalface
What is The Coalface's food hygiene rating?
The Coalface has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Durham Council on 13 June 2024.
Is The Coalface safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Coalface last inspected?
The Coalface was last inspected on 13 June 2024, more than 2 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 Coalface?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Coalface compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, while The Coalface holds a 4. 684 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Coalface 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 Coalface 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Coalface is one of 186 rated food businesses in Seaham. See every hygiene rating in Seaham →
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 →