Dolphin Centre food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Darlington
Dolphin Centre 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 11 April 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: The Dolphin Centre, Horsemarket, Darlington, DL1 5RP
How it compares in Darlington
That puts Dolphin Centre 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% | ← Dolphin Centre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Dolphin Centre 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 Dolphin Centre, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodega Delizia Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2025 |
| Bronuts Bakes \& Beyond Other catering premises | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2024 |
| Boot And Shoe Pub/bar/nightclub | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Blair And Sons Retailers - other | 124 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| Agape4allfoods Limited Retailers - other | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2025 |
| Banqo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Cafe Zest (Massarella Restaurants Ltd) At House Of Fraser Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 150 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2025 |
| Age Uk (Cafe And The Arcade Dementia Centre) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 189 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
Questions about Dolphin Centre
What is Dolphin Centre's food hygiene rating?
Dolphin Centre has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 11 April 2024.
Is Dolphin Centre 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 Dolphin Centre last inspected?
Dolphin Centre was last inspected on 11 April 2024, more than 2 years 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 Dolphin Centre?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Dolphin Centre compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and Dolphin Centre is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Dolphin Centre 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 Dolphin Centre 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 →