The China Chef food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Pendle
The China Chef holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 25 March 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: 73 Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 9ES
How it compares in Pendle
A 2 is rare: only 30 of 764 rated places in Pendle score this low, about one in 25. By contrast 71% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 540 | 71% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 126 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 51 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 4% | ← The China Chef | |
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 40 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 China Chef the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 The China Chef, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew & Boost Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 333 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2026 |
| Aperitive Reci By Lidya Farmers/growers | 339 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Bradley Nursery School Caring Premises | 377 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| 247 Convenience Retailers - other | 438 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2026 |
| Chesters Chicken Takeaway/sandwich shop | 439 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2025 |
| Bradford Catering Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Alexandra Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2026 |
| Bradley Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2026 |
Questions about The China Chef
What is The China Chef's food hygiene rating?
The China Chef has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Pendle Council on 25 March 2025.
Is The China Chef safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway 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 The China Chef last inspected?
The China Chef was last inspected on 25 March 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Pendle Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The China Chef?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", 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 China Chef compare to other places in Pendle?
71% of the 764 rated food businesses in Pendle hold the top rating of 5, while The China Chef holds a 2. 30 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Pendle Council inspects The China Chef 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 China Chef 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 2 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 Pendle, 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: Pendle
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The China Chef is one of 278 rated food businesses in Nelson. See every hygiene rating in Nelson →
Pendle inspects and rates 804 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Pendle →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.pendle.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 →