Utopia food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
Utopia 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 7 March 2019, more than 7 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: 91 Front Street, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3BJ
How it compares in Durham
That puts Utopia 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% | ← Utopia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Utopia 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 Utopia, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Noble & Sons Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2025 |
| Cooplands Retailers - other | 38 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2024 |
| 5 A Day Retailers - other | 42 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2019 |
| Lambton Arms Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Da-Zero Italian LTD Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| Bon Bons Retailers - other | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2022 |
| Dicksons Retailers - other | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2025 |
| Heron Foods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 137 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
Questions about Utopia
What is Utopia's food hygiene rating?
Utopia has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 7 March 2019.
Is Utopia 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 Utopia last inspected?
Utopia was last inspected on 7 March 2019, more than 7 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 Utopia?
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 Utopia compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Utopia is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Utopia 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 Utopia and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
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 →