Poison Lounge food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Darlington
Poison Lounge holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: Poison Lounge was inspected on 18 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: China One, 82 High Northgate, Darlington, DL1 1UW
How it compares in Darlington
That puts Poison Lounge 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% | ← Poison Lounge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Poison Lounge 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 Poison Lounge, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Burger Boss Takeaway/sandwich shop | 347 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2026 |
| Arvelli Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 397 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2026 |
| Builders Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 400 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Albert Road Post Office Retailers - other | 416 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2023 |
| Clare's Cakery Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2024 |
| Big Kids Little Kids Childcare Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
| Best Shawarma Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2024 |
Questions about Poison Lounge
What is Poison Lounge's food hygiene rating?
Poison Lounge has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 18 June 2026.
Is Poison Lounge 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Poison Lounge last inspected?
Poison Lounge was last inspected on 18 June 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Darlington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Poison Lounge?
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 Poison Lounge compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and Poison Lounge is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Poison Lounge 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 Poison Lounge and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 →