The Frog and Ferret food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Durham
The Frog and Ferret 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 4 September 2023, more than 2 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: 4 Coulson Street, Merrington Lane, Spennymoor, DL16 7RS
How it compares in Durham
That puts The Frog and Ferret 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 Frog and Ferret | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Frog and Ferret 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 Frog and Ferret, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixley Dell Day Nursery Caring Premises | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| Jay's Tudhoe Moor Convenience Store Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2023 |
| The Bounce House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2024 |
| Appleton Lodge Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2024 |
| Cheapside Fish and Chips Distributors/Transporters | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Aleeza's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
| South Durham Diner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
Questions about The Frog and Ferret
What is The Frog and Ferret's food hygiene rating?
The Frog and Ferret has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 4 September 2023.
Is The Frog and Ferret 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 Frog and Ferret last inspected?
The Frog and Ferret was last inspected on 4 September 2023, more than 2 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 Frog and Ferret?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Frog and Ferret compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and The Frog and Ferret is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects The Frog and Ferret 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 Frog and Ferret 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 Frog and Ferret 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 →