Dept. 68 food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · West Northamptonshire
Dept. 68 holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 29 October 2025, 8 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: 68 King Edward Road, Northampton, Nn1 5lu, NN1 5LU
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
That puts Dept. 68 among the 2,565 places in West Northamptonshire holding top marks, 78% 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 | 2,565 | 78% | ← Dept. 68 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 378 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 43 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building 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 Dept. 68 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 Dept. 68, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abington Bowling Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 314 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
| Al Reys Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Artisan Bakery Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2025 |
| Abington Supermarket Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| Bartellas Coffee House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
| Blue Tree Hospitality Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Aspens Services Ltd School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2025 |
| Beer Guerrilla Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2022 |
Questions about Dept. 68
What is Dept. 68's food hygiene rating?
Dept. 68 has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 29 October 2025.
Is Dept. 68 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Dept. 68 last inspected?
Dept. 68 was last inspected on 29 October 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Dept. 68?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Dept. 68 compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, and Dept. 68 is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects Dept. 68 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 Dept. 68 and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Dept. 68 is one of 1,617 rated food businesses in Northampton. See every hygiene rating in Northampton →
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →