Cottles Bar food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
Cottles Bar holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 9 July 2018, more than 8 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Managers Flat Cottles 30 Commercial Street, Willington, DL15 0AD
How it compares in Durham
That puts Cottles Bar 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% | ← Cottles Bar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 682 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 51 | 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- 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 Cottles Bar 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 Cottles Bar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go Local / Sheldons Newsagents Retailers - other | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 July 2023 |
| Nature Supplies Manufacturers/packers | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2025 |
| The Commercial Willington Pub/bar/nightclub | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2021 |
| T. Walton Butchers Retailers - other | 198 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Kebab House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 207 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2024 |
| AJ Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 207 yards away | 4 - Good | 10 November 2025 |
| Willington AFC Pub/bar/nightclub | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
| Nursery Time Caring Premises | 266 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2025 |
Questions about Cottles Bar
What is Cottles Bar's food hygiene rating?
Cottles Bar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 9 July 2018.
Is Cottles Bar 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Cottles Bar last inspected?
Cottles Bar was last inspected on 9 July 2018, more than 8 years 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 Cottles Bar?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Cottles Bar compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Cottles Bar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Cottles Bar 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 Cottles Bar and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cottles Bar is one of 56 rated food businesses in Willington. See every hygiene rating in Willington →
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 →