Black Bull food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
Black Bull 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 8 April 2025, 15 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: 10 the Village, Old Shotton, SR8 2NA
How it compares in Durham
That puts Black Bull 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% | ← Black Bull | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 683 | 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 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 Black Bull 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 Black Bull, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shotton Hall Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 280 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 September 2022 |
| Greggs Takeaway/sandwich shop | 336 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2025 |
| Peterlee DP LTD Pub/bar/nightclub | 336 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2025 |
| Sainsbury's Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 336 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2025 |
| Shotton Hall Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Candy4u Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Inside Out North East CIC School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2025 |
| China Delight Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
Questions about Black Bull
What is Black Bull's food hygiene rating?
Black Bull has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 8 April 2025.
Is Black Bull 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 Black Bull last inspected?
Black Bull was last inspected on 8 April 2025, 15 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 Black Bull?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Black Bull compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Black Bull is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Black Bull 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 Black Bull 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 4,645 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 →