Messy Church food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
Messy Church holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 25 October 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: St James Church and Community Hall the Leazes, Burnopfield, NE16 6HR
How it compares in Durham
That puts Messy Church 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% | ← Messy Church | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Messy Church 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 Messy Church, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Co-Operative Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 July 2024 |
| The Sun Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2019 |
| Lintz Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 14 September 2018 |
| Home Bakery Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 3 November 2025 |
| The Changing Room Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2025 |
| Burton House Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 16 February 2023 |
| Rowlands Gill Under Fives Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
| St Barnabas Church Hall Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2025 |
Questions about Messy Church
What is Messy Church's food hygiene rating?
Messy Church has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 25 October 2023.
Is Messy Church 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Messy Church last inspected?
Messy Church was last inspected on 25 October 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 Messy Church?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Messy Church compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Messy Church is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Messy Church 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 Messy Church and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Messy Church is one of 22 rated food businesses in Burnopfield. See every hygiene rating in Burnopfield →
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 →