Lovea food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Darlington
Lovea holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 April 2026, 2 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: 57 - 58 Skinnergate, Darlington, DL3 7LH
How it compares in Darlington
That puts Lovea 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% | ← Lovea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Lovea 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 Lovea, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buzz Bingo Pub/bar/nightclub | 27 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| Best Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| Bright Post House Store Retailers - other | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
| Bakerman Retailers - other | 150 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2023 |
| Cafe Spice Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 153 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Al Forno Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2025 |
| Andy's Candy Bar Retailers - other | 160 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Best Afro Foods Other catering premises | 175 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2024 |
Questions about Lovea
What is Lovea's food hygiene rating?
Lovea has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 16 April 2026.
Is Lovea 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Lovea last inspected?
Lovea was last inspected on 16 April 2026, 2 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 Lovea?
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 Lovea compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and Lovea is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Lovea 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 Lovea 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
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 →