The Wheatsheaf food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Darlington
The Wheatsheaf holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub 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 25 July 2025, 11 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: 254 Yarm Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 1XN
How it compares in Darlington
In Darlington, 90% of rated places manage a 5, so The Wheatsheaf 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% | ← The Wheatsheaf | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 The Wheatsheaf 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 The Wheatsheaf, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 144 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2023 |
| Broadway Daycare School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2026 |
| Booker Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2026 |
| Caterplus@Anchor-Mayflower Court Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 April 2025 |
| B & H Chippy / B & H Punjabi Curry House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| China China Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2026 |
| Amirah Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 December 2023 |
| Classic Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
Questions about The Wheatsheaf
What is The Wheatsheaf's food hygiene rating?
The Wheatsheaf has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Darlington Council on 25 July 2025.
Is The Wheatsheaf safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub 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 The Wheatsheaf last inspected?
The Wheatsheaf was last inspected on 25 July 2025, 11 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 The Wheatsheaf?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Wheatsheaf compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, while The Wheatsheaf holds a 3. 19 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects The Wheatsheaf 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 The Wheatsheaf and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 →