Staff Mess food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
Staff Mess 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 30 August 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: HM Prison Frankland Finchale Avenue, Brasside, DH1 5YD
How it compares in Durham
That puts Staff Mess 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% | ← Staff Mess | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Staff Mess 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 Staff Mess, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barking Blends Coffee House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Common Grounds Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2026 |
| Durham Caravans Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2025 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2024 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Cocken Lodge Driving Range Golf Course Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 April 2024 |
| Costa at Next Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
Questions about Staff Mess
What is Staff Mess's food hygiene rating?
Staff Mess has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 30 August 2023.
Is Staff Mess 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 Staff Mess last inspected?
Staff Mess was last inspected on 30 August 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 Staff Mess?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Staff Mess compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Staff Mess is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Staff Mess 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 Staff Mess and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 →