Heron Foods food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Durham
Heron Foods holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 26 January 2026, 7 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.
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: 22 Market Place, Barnard Castle, DL12 8NB
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near Heron Foods
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How it compares in Durham
That puts Heron Foods among the 3,076 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 | 3,076 | 75% | ← Heron Foods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 669 | 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 Heron Foods 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 Heron Foods, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowes Occasions Retailers - other | 8 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Pizza Cottage Takeaway/sandwich shop | 23 yards away | 4 - Good | 12 December 2024 |
| Clarendons Cafe and Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 41 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| The Golden Lion Pub/bar/nightclub | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| No 15 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2025 |
| Raby Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 54 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 58 yards away | Exempt | |
| Wilde Books Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 58 yards away | Awaiting inspection |
Questions about Heron Foods
What is Heron Foods's food hygiene rating?
Heron Foods has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 26 January 2026.
Is Heron Foods 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Heron Foods last inspected?
Heron Foods was last inspected on 26 January 2026, 7 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 Heron Foods?
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 Heron Foods compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,106 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Heron Foods is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Heron Foods 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 Heron Foods and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Heron Foods is one of 109 rated food businesses in Barnard Castle. See every hygiene rating in Barnard Castle →
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 →