Dark Matters food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Bristol
Dark Matters 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 August 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: 25C Merton Road, Bishopston, BS7 8TL
How it compares in Bristol
That puts Dark Matters among the 2,827 places in Bristol holding top marks, 76% 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 | 2,827 | 76% | ← Dark Matters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 608 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 190 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 32 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | <1% |
A further 757 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 Dark Matters 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 Dark Matters, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor/PizzaAmore/DoughMasters/ManduGuys/Hansik/Bibigo Pub/bar/nightclub | 202 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| Ashley Down After School Club School/college/university | 245 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Ashgrove Pharmacy Retailers - other | 361 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2025 |
| Ashley Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 361 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Ashgrove Park Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2025 |
| Aramark @ CCB ADC Coffee Shop School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Aramark @ CCB ADC Refectory School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2021 |
Questions about Dark Matters
What is Dark Matters's food hygiene rating?
Dark Matters has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bristol Council on 5 August 2025.
Is Dark Matters 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 Dark Matters last inspected?
Dark Matters was last inspected on 5 August 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bristol Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Dark Matters?
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 Dark Matters compare to other places in Bristol?
76% of the 3,707 rated food businesses in Bristol hold the top rating of 5, and Dark Matters is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bristol Council inspects Dark Matters 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 Dark Matters 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
Dark Matters is one of 163 rated food businesses in Bishopston. See every hygiene rating in Bishopston →
Bristol inspects and rates 4,464 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bristol →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bristol.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 →