Empty Bellies food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Oldham
Empty Bellies holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the shop requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 23 April 2026, 4 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Only 7% of rated food businesses in Oldham score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Oldham ratings →
Address: 3 Hardman Lane, Failsworth, M35 0DL
How it compares in Oldham
A 0 is rare: only 9 of 1,686 rated places in Oldham score this low, about one in 187. By contrast 76% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,287 | 76% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 222 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 81 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 61 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 26 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ← Empty Bellies |
A further 222 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Major improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Urgent improvement necessary
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 Empty Bellies the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Empty Bellies, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Delicious Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2024 |
| Bargain Booze Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 November 2025 |
| Adanos Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| Aryan Mini Mart Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 July 2026 |
| Anglers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2021 |
| Billy's Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2026 |
| Acacia Lodge Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Best One Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2020 |
Questions about Empty Bellies
What is Empty Bellies's food hygiene rating?
Empty Bellies has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by Oldham Council on 23 April 2026.
Is Empty Bellies safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The shop may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was Empty Bellies last inspected?
Empty Bellies was last inspected on 23 April 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Oldham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Empty Bellies?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "urgent improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Empty Bellies compare to other places in Oldham?
76% of the 1,686 rated food businesses in Oldham hold the top rating of 5, while Empty Bellies holds a 0. 9 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Oldham Council inspects Empty Bellies 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 Empty Bellies 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 0 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Oldham, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Oldham
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Empty Bellies is one of 138 rated food businesses in Failsworth. See every hygiene rating in Failsworth →
Oldham inspects and rates 1,908 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Oldham →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.oldham.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 →