Ribbon food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Darlington
Ribbon holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 16 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: 120 Gladstone Street, Darlington, DL3 6JZ
How it compares in Darlington
A 1 is rare: only 6 of 836 rated places in Darlington score this low, about one in 139. By contrast 90% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 755 | 90% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ← Ribbon | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Ribbon the inspector recorded concerns over 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 Ribbon, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismillah Retailers - other | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2024 |
| Bengal Heritage Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 26 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Best Afro Foods Other catering premises | 247 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2024 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 310 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 July 2023 |
| Best Kebab 1 Takeaway/sandwich shop | 324 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| Best Shawarma Takeaway/sandwich shop | 326 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2024 |
| B\&S Market Retailers - other | 327 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2024 |
| Big Kids Little Kids Childcare Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 364 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
Questions about Ribbon
What is Ribbon's food hygiene rating?
Ribbon has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Darlington Council on 16 October 2025.
Is Ribbon safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop 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 Ribbon last inspected?
Ribbon was last inspected on 16 October 2025, 8 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 Ribbon?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Ribbon compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, while Ribbon holds a 1. 6 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Ribbon 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 Ribbon 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 Darlington, 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: Darlington
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 →