The Departure Lounge food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Halton
The Departure Lounge holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: The Departure Lounge was inspected on 8 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 37-41 Albert Road, Widnes, Halton, WA8 6JA
How it compares in Halton
That puts The Departure Lounge among the 620 places in Halton holding top marks, 75% 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 | 620 | 75% | ← The Departure Lounge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 106 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 66 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | 1% |
A further 81 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 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 Departure Lounge 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 Departure Lounge, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffettea Other catering premises | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| D and S Fisheries Retailers - other | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Early Learners Nursery Caring Premises | 132 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| Chris's Chippy Takeaway/sandwich shop | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2024 |
| Cakes by Charl Retailers - other | 188 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2024 |
| Buzz Bingo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 271 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2024 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 271 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 380 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
Questions about The Departure Lounge
What is The Departure Lounge's food hygiene rating?
The Departure Lounge has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Halton Council on 8 June 2026.
Is The Departure Lounge 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Departure Lounge last inspected?
The Departure Lounge was last inspected on 8 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Halton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Departure Lounge?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Departure Lounge compare to other places in Halton?
75% of the 825 rated food businesses in Halton hold the top rating of 5, and The Departure Lounge is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Halton Council inspects The Departure Lounge 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 Departure Lounge and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Departure Lounge is one of 413 rated food businesses in Widnes. See every hygiene rating in Widnes →
Halton inspects and rates 906 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Halton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.halton.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 →