Ashchem Chemists food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Durham
Ashchem Chemists 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 31 March 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.
91% of rated food businesses in Durham score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Durham ratings →
Address: 3 West Road, Annfield Plain, DH9 7XA
How this rating has changed
Ashchem Chemists was re-inspected on 31 March 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2026 | Exempt 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Durham
That puts Ashchem Chemists among the 3,076 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 | 3,076 | 75% | ← Ashchem Chemists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 669 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 287 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 46 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 25 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 525 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 Ashchem Chemists 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 Ashchem Chemists, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Tasty Takeaway/sandwich shop | 51 yards away | 4 - Good | 17 April 2026 |
| Best One - Gaba & Sons Retailers - other | 83 yards away | 4 - Good | 14 April 2026 |
| Prime Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 96 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2026 |
| Annfield Plain Junior School School/college/university | 96 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2025 |
| Queens Head Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 99 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2019 |
| Annfield Plain Democratic Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2019 |
| Candy Parrot Retailers - other | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2022 |
| Deli-icious Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 128 yards away | 4 - Good | 25 June 2026 |
Questions about Ashchem Chemists
What is Ashchem Chemists's food hygiene rating?
Ashchem Chemists has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 31 March 2026.
Is Ashchem Chemists 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 Ashchem Chemists last inspected?
Ashchem Chemists was last inspected on 31 March 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 Ashchem Chemists?
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 Ashchem Chemists compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,106 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Ashchem Chemists is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Ashchem Chemists 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 Ashchem Chemists and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Ashchem Chemists is one of 29 rated food businesses in Annfield Plain. See every hygiene rating in Annfield Plain →
Durham inspects and rates 4,631 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 →