Whittard of Chelsea food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Durham
Whittard of Chelsea 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 7 November 2025, 8 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: 14 Market Place, Durham, DH1 3NE
How it compares in Durham
That puts Whittard of Chelsea 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% | ← Whittard of Chelsea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Whittard of Chelsea 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 Whittard of Chelsea, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bells Fish & Chips Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2026 |
| Durham Distillery Retailers - other | 70 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2023 |
| Durham City Fruiterers Retailers - other | 82 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
| Cafe Cenno Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
| Blue Eyes Durham Limited Pub/bar/nightclub | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2025 |
| Anderson's Greengrocers Retailers - other | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2024 |
| Chapters of Durham Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 115 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| Coviello Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
Questions about Whittard of Chelsea
What is Whittard of Chelsea's food hygiene rating?
Whittard of Chelsea has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 7 November 2025.
Is Whittard of Chelsea 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 Whittard of Chelsea last inspected?
Whittard of Chelsea was last inspected on 7 November 2025, 8 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 Whittard of Chelsea?
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 Whittard of Chelsea compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Whittard of Chelsea is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Whittard of Chelsea 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 Whittard of Chelsea 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
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 →