J C Dobson (Butcher) food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Durham
J C Dobson (Butcher) holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 17 June 2025, 12 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: 3 Castle Bank, Tow Law, DL13 4AA
How it compares in Durham
In Durham, 75% of rated places manage a 5, so J C Dobson (Butcher) sits behind roughly 3,087 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,087 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 682 | 17% | ← J C Dobson (Butcher) | |
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 J C Dobson (Butcher) 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 J C Dobson (Butcher), nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Newmarket Pub/bar/nightclub | 11 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2025 |
| The Co-Operative Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 43 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2025 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2024 |
| The Pantry Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2025 |
| Go Local Retailers - other | 138 yards away | 4 - Good | 20 August 2024 |
| Page's Bakery Retailers - other | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2025 |
| Tow Law Community Centre Other catering premises | 201 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2024 |
| Castle Bank Care Home Caring Premises | 217 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
Questions about J C Dobson (Butcher)
What is J C Dobson (Butcher)'s food hygiene rating?
J C Dobson (Butcher) has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Durham Council on 17 June 2025.
Is J C Dobson (Butcher) safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was J C Dobson (Butcher) last inspected?
J C Dobson (Butcher) was last inspected on 17 June 2025, 12 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 J C Dobson (Butcher)?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does J C Dobson (Butcher) compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, while J C Dobson (Butcher) holds a 4. 682 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects J C Dobson (Butcher) 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 J C Dobson (Butcher) and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
J C Dobson (Butcher) is one of 25 rated food businesses in Tow Law. See every hygiene rating in Tow Law →
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 →