The Dun Cow food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Dun Cow 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 27 February 2025, 16 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: 37 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Dun Cow 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 Dun Cow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 Dun Cow 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 Dun Cow, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Masonic Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 8 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2025 |
| Dunelm Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 175 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2025 |
| Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Best One - Dunelm Food Store Retailers - other | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 April 2025 |
| Cooplands Retailers - other | 299 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2026 |
| Durham Students Union Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 312 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2025 |
| Durham University - Hatfield College School/college/university | 426 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Durham University - Hatfield College Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 426 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2018 |
Questions about The Dun Cow
What is The Dun Cow's food hygiene rating?
The Dun Cow has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 27 February 2025.
Is The Dun Cow 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 Dun Cow last inspected?
The Dun Cow was last inspected on 27 February 2025, 16 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 The Dun Cow?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Dun Cow compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Dun Cow is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Dun Cow 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 Dun Cow 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 →