Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom 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 23 January 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: 29 Market Place, Barnard Castle, DL12 8NE
How it compares in Durham
That puts Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom 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% | ← Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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 Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom 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 Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holland and Barrett Retailers - other | 13 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2020 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 24 yards away | Exempt | |
| Heron Foods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 41 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2026 |
| The Golden Lion Pub/bar/nightclub | 45 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| Oxfam Retailers - other | 47 yards away | Exempt | |
| No 15 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2025 |
| Raby Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2025 |
| Pizza Cottage Takeaway/sandwich shop | 58 yards away | 4 - Good | 12 December 2024 |
Questions about Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom
What is Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom's food hygiene rating?
Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 23 January 2026.
Is Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom 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 Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom last inspected?
Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom was last inspected on 23 January 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 Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom?
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 Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,132 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom 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 Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom is one of 107 rated food businesses in Barnard Castle. See every hygiene rating in Barnard Castle →
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 →