The Penny Gill food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Penny Gill 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 16 September 2019, 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: 17 Cheapside, Spennymoor, DL16 6QE
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Penny Gill 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% | ← The Penny Gill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 682 | 17% | ||
| 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 The Penny Gill 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 Penny Gill, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Black Co. Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 43 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| The Grand Electric Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| Mr B's Bakery Retailers - other | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2025 |
| No 1 Chinese Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2025 |
| The Cottage Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2025 |
| Bloom n Witches Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 105 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2026 |
| Morrisons Daily Retailers - other | 118 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
Questions about The Penny Gill
What is The Penny Gill's food hygiene rating?
The Penny Gill has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 16 September 2019.
Is The Penny Gill 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 Penny Gill last inspected?
The Penny Gill was last inspected on 16 September 2019, 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 Penny Gill?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 The Penny Gill compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Penny Gill is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Penny Gill 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 Penny Gill 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 Penny Gill is one of 118 rated food businesses in Spennymoor. See every hygiene rating in Spennymoor →
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 →