What is the average food hygiene rating in Darlington?

The average food hygiene rating in Darlington is 4.84 out of 5, across 829 rated restaurants, takeaways and cafes. This is the mean of real Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, as of 2026-06-12.

How does Darlington compare with the national average for food hygiene?

90.3% of rated premises in Darlington hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — 10.6 percentage points above the national average of 79.7% across the 328 UK local authorities in the FHRS dataset. That ranks Darlington 31 of 328 by 5★ share (rank 1 = highest). Every figure is computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records used across this page.

How many restaurants in Darlington have a 5-star food hygiene rating?

749 food businesses in Darlington hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — the highest on the FSA scale — which is 90.3% of the 829 rated premises. The most recent inspection on record is dated 12 June 2026.

How many food businesses in Darlington have a low hygiene rating?

14 food businesses in Darlington are rated 2 or below and need improvement, including 1 rated 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary). A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may since have improved — always check the current rating at the FSA.

What does a food hygiene rating actually measure?

The FSA food hygiene rating (0–5) reflects how hygienically food is handled, the condition of the premises, and how well the business manages food safety, recorded at its last inspection. 5 is Very Good and 0 is Urgent Improvement Necessary. It is not a measure of food quality or taste.

Where does this Darlington food hygiene data come from?

Every figure is computed from real Food Standards Agency records for Darlington (913 establishments on record, 829 rated), sourced from ratings.food.gov.uk under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as of 2026-06-12. No estimates or survey data are mixed in.

GeraEats / Food hygiene ratings / Darlington

Food Hygiene Ratings in Darlington

In Darlington, 90.3% of 829 rated food businesses hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating, the highest on the Food Standards Agency scale. The average rating is 4.84/5. These figures cover 913 establishments on record (as of 2026-06-12).

Quick answer

Darlington has 749 food businesses rated 5 (Very Good) out of 829 rated premises (90.3%). 14 premises are rated 2 or below and need improvement. The most recent inspection on record is dated 12 June 2026.

5★ share: 90.3%
National average: 79.7%
vs national average: +10.6 pp
National rank: 31 / 328

Ranked by 5★ share among 328 UK local authorities in our FHRS dataset (rank 1 = highest share). Both figures are computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records.

Rating distribution in Darlington

5★ Very Good

749 (90.3%)

4★ Good

47 (5.7%)

3★ Generally Satisfactory

19 (2.3%)

2★ Improvement Necessary

8 (1%)

1★ Major Improvement Necessary

5 (0.6%)

0★ Urgent Improvement Necessary

1 (0.1%)

Plus 44 awaiting inspection and 40 exempt premises (not included in the rated percentages above).

Percentages are of rated premises only. 44 awaiting inspection and 40 exempt premises are excluded from the percentages.

Food hygiene in Darlington: frequently asked questions

What is the average food hygiene rating in Darlington?: The average food hygiene rating in Darlington is 4.84 out of 5, across 829 rated restaurants, takeaways and cafes. This is the mean of real Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, as of 2026-06-12.
How does Darlington compare with the national average for food hygiene?: 90.3% of rated premises in Darlington hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — 10.6 percentage points above the national average of 79.7% across the 328 UK local authorities in the FHRS dataset. That ranks Darlington 31 of 328 by 5★ share (rank 1 = highest). Every figure is computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records used across this page.
How many restaurants in Darlington have a 5-star food hygiene rating?: 749 food businesses in Darlington hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — the highest on the FSA scale — which is 90.3% of the 829 rated premises. The most recent inspection on record is dated 12 June 2026.
How many food businesses in Darlington have a low hygiene rating?: 14 food businesses in Darlington are rated 2 or below and need improvement, including 1 rated 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary). A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may since have improved — always check the current rating at the FSA.
What does a food hygiene rating actually measure?: The FSA food hygiene rating (0–5) reflects how hygienically food is handled, the condition of the premises, and how well the business manages food safety, recorded at its last inspection. 5 is Very Good and 0 is Urgent Improvement Necessary. It is not a measure of food quality or taste.
Where does this Darlington food hygiene data come from?: Every figure is computed from real Food Standards Agency records for Darlington (913 establishments on record, 829 rated), sourced from ratings.food.gov.uk under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as of 2026-06-12. No estimates or survey data are mixed in.

Food hygiene ratings by area in Darlington

DL1450 places · 89.8% 5★

Top-rated places in Darlington

ALY'S MARTRetailers - other · 37 Blackwellgate, Darlington · DL1 5HW
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 12 June 2026
Costa CoffeeRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Sainsbury's, Victoria Road, Darlington · DL1 5JG
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 9 June 2026
Sarah Woods ChildcareCaring Premises · DL3
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 9 June 2026
Sainsbury'sRetailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Victoria Road, Darlington · DL1 5YJ
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 9 June 2026
The PennyweightPub/bar/nightclub · 8 Bakehouse Hill, DARLINGTON · DL1 5QA
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 4 June 2026
The Springfield HotelPub/bar/nightclub · Springfield Hotel, Salters Lane South, DARLINGTON · DL1 2RB
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 3 June 2026
Dalkeith HouseCaring Premises · Dalkeith Close, Darlington · DL3 8DB
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 2 June 2026
The Grange Care HomeCaring Premises · The Grange, Whinbush Way, DARLINGTON · DL1 3PT
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 2 June 2026
FerndeneCaring Premises · 64 Elton Parade, DARLINGTON · DL3 8PQ
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 29 May 2026
The Other SidePub/bar/nightclub · 3B Houndgate, Darlington · DL1 5RL
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 29 May 2026
Darlington Cricket ClubPub/bar/nightclub · South Terrace, Darlington · DL1 5JD
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 27 May 2026
MJ'sRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · 15 Station Terrace, MIDDLETON ST GEORGE, DARLINGTON · DL2 1JL
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 27 May 2026

Places needing improvement in Darlington

The Tap On BondgatePub/bar/nightclub · 94 Bondgate, Darlington · DL3 7JY
0/5 · Urgent Improvement NecessaryInspected 12 November 2025
Pick And PayRetailers - other · 102 Neasham Road, Darlington · DL1 4AQ
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 19 June 2024
Croft W.M.C.Retailers - other · 6 Hurworth Road, Hurworth Place, Darlington · DL2 2DA
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 17 January 2025
RibbonRetailers - other · 120 Gladstone Street, DARLINGTON · DL3 6JZ
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 16 October 2025
Geneva ExpressRetailers - other · 84 Geneva Road, DARLINGTON · DL1 4NJ
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 30 March 2026
Pick And PayRetailers - other · 204A North Road, Darlington · DL1 2EL
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 5 June 2024
Parkgate NewsRetailers - other · 117-119 Parkgate, Darlington · DL1 1RZ
2/5 · Improvement NecessaryInspected 10 September 2025
Ming ChefTakeaway/sandwich shop · 6 Springfield Road, DARLINGTON · DL1 2QD
2/5 · Improvement NecessaryInspected 26 September 2025

A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may have since improved. Always check the current rating at the FSA before drawing conclusions.

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Across the Gera ecosystem

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Methodology

Figures are computed from 913 real Food Standards Agency records for Darlington, of which 829 carry a 0–5 hygiene rating. The average is the mean of those ratings; percentages exclude awaiting-inspection and exempt premises. No estimates or survey data are mixed in. Data as of 2026-06-12.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Food hygiene ratings are sourced from the Food Standards Agency at ratings.food.gov.uk. Ratings reflect the most recent inspection on record and may have changed since publication.