A J Convenience Store Ltd food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Darlington
A J Convenience Store Ltd holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 5 December 2023, 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: 49 Brinkburn Road, Darlington, DL3 6DU
How it compares in Darlington
That puts A J Convenience Store Ltd among the 755 places in Darlington holding top marks, 90% 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 | 755 | 90% | ← A J Convenience Store Ltd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 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 Very 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 A J Convenience Store Ltd 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 A J Convenience Store Ltd, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brinkburn Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 113 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| Builders Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Clare's Cakery Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2024 |
| Albert Road Post Office Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2023 |
| Cockerton Band & Musical Inst. Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2023 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2025 |
| 4Motion Skatepark Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Andaman Home Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 January 2026 |
Questions about A J Convenience Store Ltd
What is A J Convenience Store Ltd's food hygiene rating?
A J Convenience Store Ltd has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 5 December 2023.
Is A J Convenience Store Ltd 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was A J Convenience Store Ltd last inspected?
A J Convenience Store Ltd was last inspected on 5 December 2023, more than 2 years 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 A J Convenience Store Ltd?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 A J Convenience Store Ltd compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and A J Convenience Store Ltd is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects A J Convenience Store Ltd 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 A J Convenience Store Ltd 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 →