China Red food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Newcastle-Under-Lyme
China Red holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: China Red was inspected on 21 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 134 Congleton Road, Butt Lane, ST7 1LX
How it compares in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
A 2 is rare: only 2 of 894 rated places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme score this low, about one in 447. By contrast 87% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 779 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 70 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ← China Red | |
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 85 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 China Red the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 China Red, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butt Lane Food and Wine Retailers - other | 29 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2025 |
| Drop in Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 153 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2024 |
| Costa Coffee Drive Thru Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 334 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2024 |
| Co-Operative Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 342 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2026 |
| Greggs Other catering premises | 359 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2024 |
| Canal Tavern Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2024 |
| Clough Hall Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Hamiltons Bake Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
Questions about China Red
What is China Red's food hygiene rating?
China Red has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council on 21 May 2026.
Is China Red safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was China Red last inspected?
China Red was last inspected on 21 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at China Red?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does China Red compare to other places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
87% of the 894 rated food businesses in Newcastle-Under-Lyme hold the top rating of 5, while China Red holds a 2. 2 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council inspects China Red 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 China Red 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 2 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 Newcastle-Under-Lyme, 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: Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
China Red is one of 109 rated food businesses in Kidsgrove. See every hygiene rating in Kidsgrove →
Newcastle-Under-Lyme inspects and rates 979 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newcastle-Under-Lyme →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newcastle-staffs.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 →