Happy Panda food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Durham
Happy Panda holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The takeaway met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 2 March 2026, 4 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: 3 Bridge End, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3RE
How it compares in Durham
In Durham, 75% of rated places manage a 5, so Happy Panda sits behind roughly 3,764 nearby businesses. 7% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,088 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 676 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 284 | 7% | ← Happy Panda | |
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 518 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 Happy Panda 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 Happy Panda, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 89 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 June 2026 |
| Bright Star Nursery Caring Premises | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| Chester Shawarma Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2026 |
| Ashley Cottage Tea Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 157 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2024 |
| B and M Retailers - other | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 September 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 221 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2025 |
| Admiral Other catering premises | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
Questions about Happy Panda
What is Happy Panda's food hygiene rating?
Happy Panda has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Durham Council on 2 March 2026.
Is Happy Panda safe to eat at?
A 3 means the takeaway met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Happy Panda last inspected?
Happy Panda was last inspected on 2 March 2026, 4 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 Happy Panda?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 Happy Panda compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,122 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, while Happy Panda holds a 3. 284 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Happy Panda 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 Happy Panda 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 4,640 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 →