Darlin Buds food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Thurrock
Darlin Buds holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 December 2025, 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: Stifford Clays Primary School, Whitmore Avenue, Stifford Clays, RM16 2JA
How it compares in Thurrock
That puts Darlin Buds among the 834 places in Thurrock holding top marks, 71% 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 | 834 | 71% | ← Darlin Buds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 228 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 85 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 122 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 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 Darlin Buds 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 Darlin Buds, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Gardens Care Caring Premises | 422 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
| Deneholm Primary School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2025 |
| Blackshots Leisure Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2025 |
| Chafford Hundred Pre School Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 September 2025 |
| Chen's Garden Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2024 |
| D Johnson And Sons Butchers Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Eggfree Cakes Box Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2021 |
Questions about Darlin Buds
What is Darlin Buds's food hygiene rating?
Darlin Buds has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Thurrock Council on 16 December 2025.
Is Darlin Buds 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 school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Darlin Buds last inspected?
Darlin Buds was last inspected on 16 December 2025, 6 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Thurrock Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Darlin Buds?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Darlin Buds compare to other places in Thurrock?
71% of the 1,168 rated food businesses in Thurrock hold the top rating of 5, and Darlin Buds is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Thurrock Council inspects Darlin Buds 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 Darlin Buds 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
Darlin Buds is one of 262 rated food businesses in Grays. See every hygiene rating in Grays →
Thurrock inspects and rates 1,290 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Thurrock →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/food
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 →