The Old Mill food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Old Mill 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 Old Mill was inspected on 30 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
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: Hillside Thinford Road, Cornforth, DH6 5NX
How this rating has changed
The Old Mill has improved: it was rated 4 before its inspection on 30 July 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 30 July 2026 | 4 5 | Improved |
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 The Old Mill among the 3,075 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 | 3,075 | 75% | ← The Old Mill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 670 | 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 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 The Old Mill 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 Old Mill, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Poachers Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2026 |
| Dave's Breakfast Bar Mobile caterer | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Pizzeria Martino Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Cornforth House Partnership Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Best kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| Square & Compass Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2025 |
Questions about The Old Mill
What is The Old Mill's food hygiene rating?
The Old Mill has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 30 July 2026.
Is The Old Mill 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 Old Mill last inspected?
The Old Mill was last inspected on 30 July 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 Old Mill?
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 The Old Mill compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,106 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Old Mill is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Old Mill 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 Old Mill and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →