Despina Foods Express Ltd food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Hertsmere
Despina Foods Express Ltd 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 14 April 2025, 15 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: Potters Bar Railway Station, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 1AN
How it compares in Hertsmere
That puts Despina Foods Express Ltd among the 582 places in Hertsmere holding top marks, 81% 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 | 582 | 81% | ← Despina Foods Express Ltd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 90 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 30 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 14 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 120 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 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 Despina Foods Express Ltd 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 Despina Foods Express Ltd, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holland And Barrett Retailers - other | 3 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2025 |
| Le Petit Mignon Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 95 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 November 2025 |
| Golden Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2025 |
| Alpha Butchers Retailers - other | 176 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 May 2026 |
| Aksular Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 213 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2025 |
Questions about Despina Foods Express Ltd
What is Despina Foods Express Ltd's food hygiene rating?
Despina Foods Express Ltd has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Hertsmere Council on 14 April 2025.
Is Despina Foods Express Ltd 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 Despina Foods Express Ltd last inspected?
Despina Foods Express Ltd was last inspected on 14 April 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Hertsmere Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Despina Foods Express Ltd?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Despina Foods Express Ltd compare to other places in Hertsmere?
81% of the 721 rated food businesses in Hertsmere hold the top rating of 5, and Despina Foods Express Ltd is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Hertsmere Council inspects Despina Foods Express Ltd 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 Despina Foods Express Ltd and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Despina Foods Express Ltd is one of 160 rated food businesses in Potters Bar. See every hygiene rating in Potters Bar →
Hertsmere inspects and rates 841 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Hertsmere →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.hertsmere.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 →