The Buck Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Darlington
The Buck Inn holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 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: Middleton Road, Sadberge, Darlington, DL2 1RR
How it compares in Darlington
That puts The Buck Inn 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% | ← The Buck Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Buck Inn 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 Buck Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadberge Village Hall Cafe And Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2026 |
| Penny Petroleum Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2024 |
| Penny On The Move Retailers - other | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2024 |
| Eurest Foodservice Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2024 |
| MJ's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2026 |
| Oak Lodge Care Home Caring Premises | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Bewick House Caring Premises | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Cricket And Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
Questions about The Buck Inn
What is The Buck Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Buck Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 7 August 2025.
Is The Buck Inn 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Buck Inn last inspected?
The Buck Inn was last inspected on 7 August 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 Buck Inn?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Buck Inn compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and The Buck Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects The Buck Inn 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 Buck Inn 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 →