Balaggans food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Sunderland
Balaggans holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 January 2020, more than 6 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: 29/33 Rose Avenue, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 6JB
How it compares in Sunderland
That puts Balaggans among the 1,634 places in Sunderland holding top marks, 84% 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 | 1,634 | 84% | ← Balaggans | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 192 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 74 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 366 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 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 Balaggans 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 Balaggans, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Fry Inn Fencehouses Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Dubmire Daycare Centre Caring Premises | 377 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| Bargain Booze - Select Convenience Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 November 2022 |
| Front Street Superstore Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2025 |
| Happy Wok Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2025 |
| Grasswell House Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| Bargain Booze Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2019 |
| Binning Convenience Store Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2023 |
Questions about Balaggans
What is Balaggans's food hygiene rating?
Balaggans has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Sunderland Council on 13 January 2020.
Is Balaggans 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Balaggans last inspected?
Balaggans was last inspected on 13 January 2020, more than 6 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sunderland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Balaggans?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Balaggans compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,945 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, and Balaggans is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects Balaggans 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 Balaggans 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Balaggans is one of 276 rated food businesses in Houghton-le-Spring. See every hygiene rating in Houghton-le-Spring →
Sunderland inspects and rates 2,311 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sunderland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sunderland.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 →