Gao Express food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Stevenage
Gao Express holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the business are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 8 July 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: 1B Market Place, Town Centre, Stevenage, SG1 1DD
How it compares in Stevenage
In Stevenage, 89% of rated places manage a 5, so Gao Express sits behind roughly 467 nearby businesses. 8% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 467 | 89% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 42 | 8% | ← Gao Express | |
| 3 out of 5 | 10 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 166 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 Very 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 Gao Express 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 Gao Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Tree Ltd Retailers - other | 70 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2020 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2006 |
| Costa Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2021 |
| Bargain Grocery Outlet Retailers - other | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2025 |
| Fireaway Pizza Stevenage Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 154 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Event Catering Other catering premises | 159 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2019 |
| Geek Retreat Stevenage Other catering premises | 167 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2024 |
| Cece Cha Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 200 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2026 |
Questions about Gao Express
What is Gao Express's food hygiene rating?
Gao Express has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Stevenage Council on 8 July 2024.
Is Gao Express safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this business to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Gao Express last inspected?
Gao Express was last inspected on 8 July 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stevenage Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Gao Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Gao Express compare to other places in Stevenage?
89% of the 527 rated food businesses in Stevenage hold the top rating of 5, while Gao Express holds a 4. 42 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Stevenage Council inspects Gao Express 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 Gao Express and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Gao Express is one of 417 rated food businesses in Herts. See every hygiene rating in Herts →
Stevenage inspects and rates 693 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stevenage →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stevenage.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 →