The Winning Post food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Winning Post 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
This is a fresh result: The Winning Post was inspected on 20 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: The Winning Post Front Street, Merrington Lane, Spennymoor, DL16 7RY
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Winning Post 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% | ← The Winning Post | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Winning Post 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 The Winning Post, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixley Dell Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| The Frog and Ferret Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2023 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2024 |
| South Durham Diner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Spennymoor Leisure Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
| Spennymoor Pathways Care Hub Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2024 |
| Cheapside Fish and Chips Distributors/Transporters | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| The Grand Electric Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
Questions about The Winning Post
What is The Winning Post's food hygiene rating?
The Winning Post has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 20 May 2026.
Is The Winning Post 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 The Winning Post last inspected?
The Winning Post was last inspected on 20 May 2026, a month 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 The Winning Post?
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 The Winning Post compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Winning Post is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Winning Post 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 The Winning Post 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
The Winning Post is one of 118 rated food businesses in Spennymoor. See every hygiene rating in Spennymoor →
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 →