The Imperial Express food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Gateshead
The Imperial Express holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the takeaway 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 12 January 2026, 6 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: 287 Old Durham Road, Deckham, NE8 3TS
How it compares in Gateshead
In Gateshead, 81% of rated places manage a 5, so The Imperial Express sits behind roughly 1,170 nearby businesses. 14% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,170 | 81% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 197 | 14% | ← The Imperial Express | |
| 3 out of 5 | 58 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 202 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 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 The Imperial Express 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 The Imperial Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anglo Pizza & Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 417 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2024 |
| 101 Regiment Royal Artillery Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Aspen Court Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| A Bit Of A Mouthful Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2026 |
| Aldi Stores limited Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2024 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
| Alderwood Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 November 2024 |
| A&C Bolton Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2025 |
Questions about The Imperial Express
What is The Imperial Express's food hygiene rating?
The Imperial Express has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Gateshead Council on 12 January 2026.
Is The Imperial Express 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 takeaway to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Imperial Express last inspected?
The Imperial Express was last inspected on 12 January 2026, 6 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Gateshead Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Imperial Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 The Imperial Express compare to other places in Gateshead?
81% of the 1,436 rated food businesses in Gateshead hold the top rating of 5, while The Imperial Express holds a 4. 197 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Gateshead Council inspects The Imperial Express 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 The Imperial Express and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Gateshead inspects and rates 1,638 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Gateshead →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.gateshead.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 →