The Drop In food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Gateshead
The Drop In holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the business met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 24 February 2025, 16 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: Birtley Methodist Church, Station Lane, Birtley, DH3 1DG
How it compares in Gateshead
That puts The Drop In among the 1,170 places in Gateshead holding top marks, 81% 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 | 1,170 | 81% | ← The Drop In | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 197 | 14% | ||
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety 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 The Drop In 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 Drop In, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Chef Takeaway/sandwich shop | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| Benelli's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 84 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2025 |
| Birtley Branch Library Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 105 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2023 |
| Casa Rosa Takeaway/sandwich shop | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| Continental Delicatessen Retailers - other | 194 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Afro Asian Market Retailers - other | 278 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2025 |
| Aioli Restaurant by Chris Finnigan Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 287 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2025 |
| Birtley Community Association Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 299 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
Questions about The Drop In
What is The Drop In's food hygiene rating?
The Drop In has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Gateshead Council on 24 February 2025.
Is The Drop In 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 business to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Drop In last inspected?
The Drop In was last inspected on 24 February 2025, 16 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 Drop In?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Drop In compare to other places in Gateshead?
81% of the 1,436 rated food businesses in Gateshead hold the top rating of 5, and The Drop In is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Gateshead Council inspects The Drop In 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 Drop In 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 →