The Blue Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Blue Bell holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub 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 18 February 2020, more than 6 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: 2 Bridgegate, Barnard Castle, DL12 8QF
How it compares in Durham
In Durham, 75% of rated places manage a 5, so The Blue Bell 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 | 683 | 17% | ← The Blue Bell | |
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Blue Bell 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 Blue Bell, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Music Studio Retailers - other | 126 yards away | Exempt | |
| The Old Well Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2025 |
| The Bengal Merchant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 186 yards away | 4 - Good | 26 March 2026 |
| The Butty Market Takeaway/sandwich shop | 195 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Yasho's Kitchen Takeaway/sandwich shop | 199 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Artisan Corner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 202 yards away | 4 - Good | 10 July 2025 |
| NOON Living Retailers - other | 202 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| The Shelter Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
Questions about The Blue Bell
What is The Blue Bell's food hygiene rating?
The Blue Bell has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Durham Council on 18 February 2020.
Is The Blue Bell 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 pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Blue Bell last inspected?
The Blue Bell was last inspected on 18 February 2020, more than 6 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 The Blue Bell?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Blue Bell compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, while The Blue Bell holds a 4. 683 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Blue Bell 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 Blue Bell and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Blue Bell is one of 107 rated food businesses in Barnard Castle. See every hygiene rating in Barnard Castle →
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 →