Dalesman food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Darlington
Dalesman holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 26 November 2025, 7 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: The Dalesman, 96 - 100 Victoria Road, Darlington, DL1 5JW
How it compares in Darlington
In Darlington, 90% of rated places manage a 5, so Dalesman sits behind roughly 755 nearby businesses. 6% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 755 | 90% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 6% | ← Dalesman | |
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Dalesman 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 Dalesman, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Dragon Takeaway/sandwich shop | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2024 |
| Bank Top Bakery Other catering premises | 163 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2026 |
| Cafe Local Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 322 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2023 |
| Baanrai Thai Cafe And Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 393 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2026 |
| Black Swan Pub/bar/nightclub | 400 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2023 |
| Age Uk (Cafe And The Arcade Dementia Centre) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 433 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Boot And Shoe Pub/bar/nightclub | 440 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Bodega Delizia Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2025 |
Questions about Dalesman
What is Dalesman's food hygiene rating?
Dalesman has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Darlington Council on 26 November 2025.
Is Dalesman safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Dalesman last inspected?
Dalesman was last inspected on 26 November 2025, 7 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 Dalesman?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Dalesman compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, while Dalesman holds a 4. 48 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Dalesman 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 Dalesman 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 →