Somal Mini Market food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Darlington
Somal Mini Market holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The shop met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 23 July 2024, 23 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 11A Brinkburn Road, Darlington, DL3 6DR
How it compares in Darlington
In Darlington, 90% of rated places manage a 5, so Somal Mini Market sits behind roughly 803 nearby businesses. 2% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 755 | 90% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ← Somal Mini Market | |
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 79 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 Good
- 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 Somal Mini Market 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 Somal Mini Market, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brinkburn Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 218 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| Builders Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| A J Convenience Store Ltd Retailers - other | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2023 |
| Clare's Cakery Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2024 |
| Albert Road Post Office Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2023 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Burger Boss Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2026 |
| Arvelli Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2026 |
Questions about Somal Mini Market
What is Somal Mini Market's food hygiene rating?
Somal Mini Market has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Darlington Council on 23 July 2024.
Is Somal Mini Market safe to eat at?
A 3 means the shop met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Somal Mini Market last inspected?
Somal Mini Market was last inspected on 23 July 2024, 23 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Darlington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Somal Mini Market?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Somal Mini Market compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, while Somal Mini Market holds a 3. 19 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Somal Mini Market 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 Somal Mini Market 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Darlington inspects and rates 915 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Darlington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.darlington.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 →