The Clay Oven food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Barking and Dagenham
The Clay Oven holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 19 June 2024, 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: 36 Whalebone Lane South, RM8 1BB
How it compares in Barking and Dagenham
That puts The Clay Oven among the 659 places in Barking and Dagenham holding top marks, 55% 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 | 659 | 55% | ← The Clay Oven | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 272 | 23% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 163 | 14% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 26 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 69 | 6% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 255 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 The Clay Oven 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 The Clay Oven, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Discount Store Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2025 |
| Aum Cash & Carry Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Aroma Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 309 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2025 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 348 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2025 |
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 348 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| Bambinos Mobile caterer | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2023 |
| Amiraj Caterers Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2025 |
| AM News Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2025 |
Questions about The Clay Oven
What is The Clay Oven's food hygiene rating?
The Clay Oven has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Barking and Dagenham Council on 19 June 2024.
Is The Clay Oven 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Clay Oven last inspected?
The Clay Oven was last inspected on 19 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Barking and Dagenham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Clay Oven?
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 The Clay Oven compare to other places in Barking and Dagenham?
55% of the 1,193 rated food businesses in Barking and Dagenham hold the top rating of 5, and The Clay Oven is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Barking and Dagenham Council inspects The Clay Oven 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 The Clay Oven and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Clay Oven is one of 632 rated food businesses in Dagenham. See every hygiene rating in Dagenham →
Barking and Dagenham inspects and rates 1,448 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Barking and Dagenham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
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 →