5

Back of Beyond Books food hygiene rating

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham

Back of Beyond Books 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 8 April 2025, 15 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: 6A Church View, Sedgefield, TS21 2AY

How it compares in Durham

That puts Back of Beyond Books 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.

Every rated food business in Durham
5 out of 5 3,087 75% ← Back of Beyond Books
4 out of 5 682 17%
3 out of 5 286 7%
2 out of 5 51 1%
1 out of 5 24 1%
0 out of 5 2 <1%

A further 513 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 Back of Beyond Books 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 Back of Beyond Books, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Julia & Sofias Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 9 yards away 5 - Very good 18 November 2024
Hardwick Arms Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house 34 yards away 5 - Very good 11 June 2026
South Durham Ltd trading as The Black Lion Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 44 yards away 4 - Good 15 December 2025
Tickety Boo Retailers - other 57 yards away 5 - Very good 27 November 2018
Mess Charcuterie and Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 57 yards away 5 - Very good 6 January 2025
Number Four Teashop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 76 yards away 4 - Good 6 January 2025
Sedgefield Convenience Store Retailers - other 91 yards away 3 - Generally satisfactory 12 August 2025
The Co-Operative Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets 100 yards away 5 - Very good 14 May 2025

Questions about Back of Beyond Books

What is Back of Beyond Books's food hygiene rating?

Back of Beyond Books has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 8 April 2025.

Is Back of Beyond Books 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 Back of Beyond Books last inspected?

Back of Beyond Books was last inspected on 8 April 2025, 15 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 Back of Beyond Books?

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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does Back of Beyond Books compare to other places in Durham?

75% of the 4,132 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Back of Beyond Books is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Durham Council inspects Back of Beyond Books 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 Back of Beyond Books and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

Back of Beyond Books is one of 49 rated food businesses in Sedgefield. See every hygiene rating in Sedgefield

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 →