Spar food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Durham
Spar holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 10 February 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: 1 Rodham Terrace, Shield Row, DH9 0LG
How it compares in Durham
That puts Spar 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% | ← Spar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Spar 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 Spar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westholme Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
| Bamboo House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 13 November 2025 |
| Premier - Dundee House Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 April 2024 |
| 2U Food Ltd Manufacturers/packers | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2025 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Starbucks Coffee Company Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| East Stanley School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2025 |
Questions about Spar
What is Spar's food hygiene rating?
Spar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 10 February 2026.
Is Spar 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Spar last inspected?
Spar was last inspected on 10 February 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 Spar?
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 Spar compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Spar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Spar 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 Spar 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 →