Downham Dairy Barn food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Chelmsford
Downham Dairy Barn 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 2 October 2024, 21 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: Downham Hall Farm, Castledon Road, Downham, CM11 1LG
How it compares in Chelmsford
That puts Downham Dairy Barn among the 1,343 places in Chelmsford holding top marks, 92% 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 | 1,343 | 92% | ← Downham Dairy Barn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 86 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 143 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Downham Dairy Barn 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 Downham Dairy Barn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downham Hall Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 5 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Carroll Cupcake Company Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2024 |
| Beauvoir Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2025 |
| Childrens Support Service School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
Questions about Downham Dairy Barn
What is Downham Dairy Barn's food hygiene rating?
Downham Dairy Barn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Chelmsford Council on 2 October 2024.
Is Downham Dairy Barn 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 Downham Dairy Barn last inspected?
Downham Dairy Barn was last inspected on 2 October 2024, 21 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Chelmsford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Downham Dairy Barn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Downham Dairy Barn compare to other places in Chelmsford?
92% of the 1,463 rated food businesses in Chelmsford hold the top rating of 5, and Downham Dairy Barn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Chelmsford Council inspects Downham Dairy Barn 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 Downham Dairy Barn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Chelmsford inspects and rates 1,606 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Chelmsford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.chelmsford.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 →