The Dun Cow food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Dun Cow 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
This is a fresh result: The Dun Cow was inspected on 21 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 19 High Street, Witton-le-Wear, DL14 0AY
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Dun Cow among the 3,086 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 | 3,086 | 75% | ← The Dun Cow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 684 | 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 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 Dun Cow 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 Dun Cow, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Witton Castle Country Park Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Australian Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 6 April 2023 |
| The Village Fryer Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2025 |
| R Chambers Manufacturers/packers | 1.7 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 27 August 2025 |
| Bridge End Garage Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2024 |
| The 68 Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Cross Keys Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2026 |
| Fir Tree Filling Station Retailers - other | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
Questions about The Dun Cow
What is The Dun Cow's food hygiene rating?
The Dun Cow has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 21 May 2026.
Is The Dun Cow 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 Dun Cow last inspected?
The Dun Cow was last inspected on 21 May 2026, a month 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 Dun Cow?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Dun Cow compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Dun Cow is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Dun Cow 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 Dun Cow 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 →