Harrowgate Hill Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Darlington
Harrowgate Hill Stores holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop 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 6 December 2023, 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: 422 North Road, Darlington, DL1 3AG
How it compares in Darlington
In Darlington, 90% of rated places manage a 5, so Harrowgate Hill Stores 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% | ← Harrowgate Hill Stores | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Harrowgate Hill Stores 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 Harrowgate Hill Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bartons Fish \& Chips Retailers - other | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2025 |
| Cadmen Stores Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2022 |
| Asha News Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2026 |
| Bengal Express Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2025 |
| Bino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Aramark Ltd At Argos Distribution Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2025 |
| Albert Road Post Office Retailers - other | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2023 |
| Clare's Cakery Retailers - other | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2024 |
Questions about Harrowgate Hill Stores
What is Harrowgate Hill Stores's food hygiene rating?
Harrowgate Hill Stores has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Darlington Council on 6 December 2023.
Is Harrowgate Hill Stores 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 shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Harrowgate Hill Stores last inspected?
Harrowgate Hill Stores was last inspected on 6 December 2023, 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 Harrowgate Hill Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Harrowgate Hill Stores compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, while Harrowgate Hill Stores holds a 4. 48 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Harrowgate Hill Stores 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 Harrowgate Hill Stores 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 →