AC News food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Blackburn
AC News holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 19 November 2025, 7 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 15 Northgate, Blackburn, BB2 1JU
How it compares in Blackburn
A 1 is rare: only 66 of 1,076 rated places in Blackburn score this low, about one in 16. By contrast 69% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 738 | 69% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 136 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 84 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 5% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 66 | 6% | ← AC News | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 233 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 Major improvement necessary
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 AC News the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to AC News, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4WAYZ Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 69 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2025 |
| Admiral Other catering premises | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
| Akbar's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2025 |
| Bedfords Cooked Meats Retailers - other | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2024 |
| Bubble CiTea Distributors/Transporters | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2022 |
| Caesars Pizza House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2024 |
| B&M Retail Retailers - other | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2024 |
| 16th Street Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
Questions about AC News
What is AC News's food hygiene rating?
AC News has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Blackburn Council on 19 November 2025.
Is AC News safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was AC News last inspected?
AC News was last inspected on 19 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Blackburn Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at AC News?
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 "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does AC News compare to other places in Blackburn?
69% of the 1,076 rated food businesses in Blackburn hold the top rating of 5, while AC News holds a 1. 66 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Blackburn Council inspects AC News 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 AC News 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Blackburn, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Blackburn
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
AC News is one of 1,179 rated food businesses in Blackburn With Darwen. See every hygiene rating in Blackburn With Darwen →
Blackburn inspects and rates 1,309 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Blackburn →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.blackburn.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 →