TasteBuds food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Durham
TasteBuds holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the takeaway 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 10 September 2025, 10 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: 133 Durham Road, Blackhill, DH8 8RP
How it compares in Durham
In Durham, 75% of rated places manage a 5, so TasteBuds sits behind roughly 3,087 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,087 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 682 | 17% | ← TasteBuds | |
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 51 | 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 TasteBuds 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 TasteBuds, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhill Fish and Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2025 |
| Londis Blackhill Retailers - other | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2024 |
| Phoenix Express Chinese Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2024 |
| Lisa's Little Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2025 |
| JF Kennedy Care Centre Other catering premises | 118 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Tesco Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 139 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2026 |
| Shotley Bridge Nursery School School/college/university | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2026 |
| Blackhill Masonic Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 319 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2024 |
Questions about TasteBuds
What is TasteBuds's food hygiene rating?
TasteBuds has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Durham Council on 10 September 2025.
Is TasteBuds 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 takeaway to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was TasteBuds last inspected?
TasteBuds was last inspected on 10 September 2025, 10 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 TasteBuds?
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 TasteBuds compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, while TasteBuds holds a 4. 682 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects TasteBuds 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 TasteBuds and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
TasteBuds is one of 23 rated food businesses in Blackhill. See every hygiene rating in Blackhill →
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 →