Damascus Delights food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Mid Ulster
Damascus Delights holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the restaurant and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Damascus Delights was inspected on 19 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 19 King Street, Town Parks Of Magherafelt, Magherafelt, BT45 6AR
How it compares in Mid Ulster
A 1 is rare: only 5 of 1,277 rated places in Mid Ulster score this low, about one in 255. By contrast 89% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,133 | 89% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 110 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ← Damascus Delights | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 90 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Damascus Delights the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. 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 Damascus Delights, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roly's Food To Go Takeaway/sandwich shop | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| Laurel Villa Townhouse Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2023 |
| Golden Gate Takeaway/sandwich shop | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 January 2024 |
| Mary's Bar And Restaurant Pub/bar/nightclub | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2023 |
| McClenaghan Family Butchers Manufacturers/packers | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2024 |
| Slim's Healthy Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 July 2024 |
| Bob & Berts Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2025 |
| McAtamney Butchers Retailers - other | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2025 |
Questions about Damascus Delights
What is Damascus Delights's food hygiene rating?
Damascus Delights has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Mid Ulster Council on 19 May 2026.
Is Damascus Delights safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The restaurant 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 Damascus Delights last inspected?
Damascus Delights was last inspected on 19 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Ulster Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Damascus Delights?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Damascus Delights compare to other places in Mid Ulster?
89% of the 1,277 rated food businesses in Mid Ulster hold the top rating of 5, while Damascus Delights holds a 1. 5 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Ulster Council inspects Damascus Delights 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 Damascus Delights 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 1 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 Mid Ulster, 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: Mid Ulster
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Damascus Delights is one of 435 rated food businesses in Co. Londonderry. See every hygiene rating in Co. Londonderry →
Mid Ulster inspects and rates 1,367 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Ulster →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midulstercouncil.org
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 →