Oregano food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Durham
Oregano holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the takeaway and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 16 April 2026, 2 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: 56 Ambleside Avenue, Seaham, SR7 0HY
How it compares in Durham
A 1 is rare: only 25 of 4,133 rated places in Durham score this low, about one in 165. By contrast 75% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,087 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 682 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 51 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 25 | 1% | ← Oregano | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 512 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- 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 Oregano the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and 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 Oregano, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Ashdown's Stockton Lodge Caring Premises | 372 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Lawreth Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 January 2018 |
| Fun Shack Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2025 |
| Dun Cow Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2026 |
| Deneside Workmens Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2025 |
| George's The Avenue Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2025 |
| Carricks Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2024 |
| Jubilee Off Licence & Food Store Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2026 |
Questions about Oregano
What is Oregano's food hygiene rating?
Oregano has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Durham Council on 16 April 2026.
Is Oregano safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway 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 Oregano last inspected?
Oregano was last inspected on 16 April 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Durham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Oregano?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", 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 Oregano compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, while Oregano holds a 1. 25 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Oregano 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 Oregano 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 Durham, 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: Durham
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Oregano is one of 186 rated food businesses in Seaham. See every hygiene rating in Seaham →
Durham inspects and rates 4,645 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Durham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.durham.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 →